Brown aide admits taping reporter

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- A spokesman for California Attorney General Jerry Brown has acknowledged taping a reporter's telephone conversation without her knowledge.

Spokesman Scott Gerber admitted to the San Francisco Chronicle in a story published Friday that he taped a conversation he arranged between the newspaper's political reporter and two state workers concerning car insurance rates.

Gerber said he e-mailed the reporter a transcript of the conversation after complaining the story published on the newspaper's Web site failed to fairly reflect comments that were made.

On Thursday, the reporter called Gerber and asked whether he had tape-recorded the conversation.

"I did," he said. "To me it's useful to have a record."

California law prohibits recording private conversations without consent of all parties involved.

Gerber, whose boss is expected to be a leading contender for governor, was asked if he had recorded conversations with other reporters.

"Sure, I've done that before," he said.

Jim Humes, chief deputy attorney general, says in the future conversations won't be taped unless all parties agree.