Houston Writer Jailed for Record 49 Days
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From Staff and Wire Reports
A novice crime writer jailed for refusing to turn over her notes about a murder to a federal grand jury has spent more time behind bars than any journalist in the United States, according to a journalism organization.
Vanessa Leggett, 33, spent her 49th day in a Houston federal detention center Friday. She was found in contempt of court July 20 and could be held for up to 18 months.
Federal prosecutors contend Leggett is not a journalist and does not have 1st Amendment protection against revealing sources of information to the government.
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