Epstein, who wrote about being released on Thursday but with little detail, could not answer Judge Napolitano’s question as to why he was arrested, though did note that he and the second reporter, Peter Tucker, were charged with disorderly conduct and “unlawful entry” (to a public meeting?). He explained that he faced no resistance from police as he filmed Tucker’s arrest, but once Tucker was taken away, officers attempted to take the iPhone on which he recorded the scene, threatening to delete the footage. “Luckily, they didn’t delete anything,” he noted, and “Reason sent a lawyer and I was out by that afternoon.”

That said, Epstein confessed that he still “didn’t really know, to tell you the truth” why they were both removed from the very public and seemingly innocuous meeting, which Epstein was attending to report on potential legislation involving medallions. “What kind of a government do we have that watches us with cameras everywhere we go, but recoils in horror and uses force when we try to watch the government with cameras?” Judge Napolitano asked. Epstein agreed with the theme of the question and added that a similar problem occurred in the Supreme Court, where cameras are still not allowed.

The segment via Fox Business below:

[h/t Reason]

It’s the latest high-profile hire for the cable network, which launched a little over three years ago and is in 57 million homes. Although that is far fewer homes than its chief rival, CNBC, Fox Business last week managed to beat CNBC on election night, both in viewers and the key adults 25-54 demographic.

When Dobbs left CNN last November after clashing with management there, he said some leaders had been urging him to “go beyond the role at CNN and to engage in constructive problem-solving as well as to contribute positively to the great understanding of the issues of our day.”

At that time, there was speculation that Dobbs would seek some sort of political office. He had become something of a lightening rod on several issues, most prominently illegal immigration. It was his commentary on that topic that often led to fights with CNN brass, including Jon Klein, who was then president of CNN’s domestic operations.

In a statement, Dobbs said that he’s “excited and feel[s] privileged to join the great team that Rupert Murdoch, Roger Ailes and Neil Cavuto have created, and I can’t wait to make whatever contribution I can to Fox Business.”

Buried in Brian Stelter‘s story about the battle between Fox News and the Obama Administration is a little nugget: Last month, Lou Dobbs met with Roger Ailes.

Fox Business Network, which recently picked up firebrand Don Imus, is reportedly interested in Dobbs, whose controversial anti-immigration, anti-Administration stance has sat awkwardly with the rest of CNN’s programming of late.

Dobbs got some unwanted attention for CNN this summer during the “Birther” controversy after giving airtime to Birther conspiracy theorists questioning President Barack Obama’s birth certificate and nationality. Over the course of his “reporting” on that story — including after an internal memo from CNN president Jon Klein said the story was effectively dead — Dobbs lost 15% of his viewers. CNN meanwhile, was distancing itself from Dobbs, who continue that line of reasoning on his radio show — and subsequently became the target of protests and boycotts from several liberal and Hispanic organizations.

The AP in August called Dobbs “a publicity nightmare for CNN“; Gawker said “Well done Lou, well done. Just go ahead and fax your resume over to Fox News now, because you’ve probably alienated the average CNN viewer to the point of no return.”

And now, this news, which Stelter reported was sourced by two separate people within the network. Stelter said that FBN was “keen on” Dobbs, as certainly a meeting directly with Ailes would suggest. So, too, would this quote in the piece: “Don’t pick a fight with people who like to fight.” That, according to one of Stelter’s sources (an executive at Fox) was said by Roger Ailes, about the Obama Administration and their recent aggressiveness towards Fox. Dobbs, for his part, has shown that he has no problem picking fights; it only makes sense for him to find a home at a network where they do, too.

Related:
Fox’s Volley With Obama Intensifying [NYT]
Radio Lou Dobbs Slowly Killing Career Of TV Lou Dobbs [Mediaite]
Controversy Surrounding Lou Dobbs Has Failed to Increase His Ratings [Observer]
El Diario’s Case Against The “Hateful Lies” of Lou Dobbs [Mediaite]