A Dispatch from Monica Beach

By Garrett on July 6, 2005 2:22 PM

The vultures circle for an arriving embattled reporter.

The area in front of the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in Washington has been the scene of many a press stakeout–its unofficial nickname, Monica Beach, came from the many days reporters spent standing on the plaza waiting for developments in the Ken Starr investigation during the Clinton years.

Today, with two reporters ready to go to jail, was no different. The plaza is actually a terrible place for such stakeouts, as it offers many different levels and sets of steps and elevations. For a cameraman walking backwards filming someone entering or leaving the courthouse, it can be treacherous. More than 20 video cameras and another dozen still photogs, along with attendant sound techs, producers, and hangers-on buzzed about the plaza awaiting arrival of notable figures in the case.

Despite the reason for their presence, the waiting pack’s mood was jocular–the usual joking and kidding that surrounds such stakeouts whether it be at the Jackson trial, the Martha Stewart trial, or an Iowa chicken dinner a week before the caucus was very much in evidence. “Get in there and fight for your video,” one sound tech jokingly shouted at his cameraman, standing above the fray.

Perhaps ironically neither Judy Miller nor Matt Cooper played by the rules of the press scrum. In both cases the waiting pack of photographers and sound techs almost missed the beleagured reporters’ arrival as they drove past the scrum and pulled up further up the block.

Shortly after 1:30, Judy Miller, looking small among her legal team and the photogs, edged her way in from a town car. Later after pulling up down the street and gathering his wits, Cooper, looking sullen at best, walked hand-in-hand with his wife the full block into the court.

And now we wait….

The cameras stand ready for post-hearing statements.