‘Democracy Now’ reporter to plead not guilty to riot charge

Excavators are in place as work resumed Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016, on the four-state Dakota Access pipeline near St. Anthony, N.D. A federal appeals court ruling on Sunday cleared the way for work to resume on private land in North Dakota that's near a camp where thousands of protesters supporting tribal rights have gathered for months. (AP Photo/ Blake Nicholson) Excavators are in place as work resumed Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016, on the four-state Dakota Access pipeline near St. Anthony, N.D. A federal appeals court ruling on Sunday cleared the way for work to resume on private land in North Dakota that's near a camp where thousands of protesters supporting tribal rights have gathered for months. (AP Photo/ Blake Nicholson)

By Associated Press October 17, 2016 3 min read

MANDAN, N.D. (AP) – Journalist Amy Goodman, host of the syndicated program “Democracy Now!” said she planned to plead not guilty Monday to a riot charge stemming from her coverage of a protest against the construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline in North Dakota.

“I will fight these charges vigorously,” Goodman told The Associated Press. “I wasn’t trespassing. I wasn’t rioting. I was reporting.”

Goodman had earlier been charged with criminal trespassing, but that charge was dismissed Friday.

Her defense attorney, Tom Dickson, said Monday that prosecutor Ladd Erickson had told him authorities planned to charge Goodman with engaging in a riot. The misdemeanor charge, which carries penalty of up to 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine, had not been filed Monday morning.

Goodman plans to enter her plea and post bond Monday afternoon, Dickson said.