WASHINGTON, April 13 (UPI) -- Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia says he did not tell U.S. marshals to erase or confiscate reporters' audio recorders last week.
Nevertheless, he told The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press that he has apologized in a letter to the two reporters who attended his speech in Hattiesburg, Miss.
Scalia objects to the presence of the news media when he makes speeches. U.S. marshals erased the reporters' audio recorders while they were attempting to tape Scalia's speech.
The committee wrote to Scalia objecting to the marshals' behavior.
"You are correct that the action was not taken at my direction; I was as upset as you were," Scalia told the committee in a letter. "I have written to the reporters involved, extending my apology and undertaking to revise my policy to permit recording for use of the print media."
Scalia said the "electronic media have in the past respected my First Amendment right not to speak on radio or television ... and I am sure that courtesy will continue."
