Documentary filmmaker Josh Fox was arrested Wednesday at a House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee Hearing about hydraulic fracturing, a natural gas drilling technique. Fox, who was nominated for an Oscar last year for his documentary Gasland, which raised concerns about the technique, was attempting to film the proceedings.
According to the Associated Press, the Milanville, PA native was held on charges of unlawful entry by Capitol Police.
The New York Times reports that Fox brought a full production crew with him to the hearing, which was investigating a report by the Environmental Protection Agency that hydraulic fracturing caused groundwater contamination in Wyoming. Fox is currently working on a sequel to Gasland.
As Fox was being taken out of the hearing, he was heard yelling, “I'm within my First Amendment rights, and I'm being taken out,” according to Politico. An ABC News crew also attempted to film the hearing, but was also led out. Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) called for a motion to allow Fox and ABC’s cameras into the hearing. “If you claim that rule does not allow them to film, or allows you the discretion to turn them away, I move the rules be suspended so the fella who wanted to film for HBO be allowed to film this hearing and that ABC be allowed to film this hearing and all God's children be allowed to film this hearing until the room is too full for us to conduct our business,” Miller said.
However, the subcommittee chairman, Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), said the hearing was being webcast and anyone with the right credentials could film the hearing. They decided not to vote on Miller’s motion in order to continue.
The AP notes that the oil and gas industry criticized Fox’s film for making a sensationalized attack on hydraulic fracturing, which is also known as fracting. The controversial process involves injecting a mixture of water, sand and chemicals into wells in order to break up rock formations, which allows for natural gas to escape.