Affidavit shows NBC knowingly let David Gregory violate gun law

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- The Washington Metropolitan Police Department wanted to arrest former Meet the Press host David Gregory for showing an illegal high-capacity ammunition magazine during a December 2012 segment about gun control.

The arrest affidavit, obtained by conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch, shows police found probable cause to arrest Gregory following an interview with the National Rifle Association's Wayne LaPierre about banning high-capacity magazines in the United States. Gregory was never arrested or charged with a crime.

In the affidavit police detective Wayne Gerrish said an NBC News editor emailed the police department to inquire about the legality of using a gun clip, with no bullets or weapon, during the segment. Authorities told NBC in two separate emails that possessing a high-capacity clip is a misdemeanor. One of the emails recommended using a photo instead.

During the segment, which aired on Dec. 23, 2012, Gregory showed two gun clips, one that can hold up to 30 bullets and another that can hold up to 10.

In 2013, the District's attorney general decided not to bring charges against Gregory. He was later fired from the show and replaced with Chuck Todd.

The Legal Insurrection blog filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the affidavit. Judicial Watch filed lawsuit on behalf of Legal Insurrection in May 2013 to get a copy of the affidavit.

"This affidavit for an arrest warrant of David Gregory shows that NBC News thinks it is above the law. Imagine what NBC News would make of a corporation whose employees violated the law despite being warned by the police! If David Gregory were not a major media personality and not then employed by NBC, he would have almost certainly been arrested and prosecuted for possessing the illegal high magazine clip," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.