Representative Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) has introduced a bicameral bill to reinforce citizens' right to record federal agents in action.
What the Bill Does
Specifically, Rep. Frost's Right To Record Act preserves citizens' First Amendment rights to engage with and record federal agents by providing compensation if those rights are violated.
What Lawmakers are Saying
"The First Amendment defends the right to assemble, protest, and record government officials in public. That right has never been more important. In cases like the murders of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, officials and their allies tried to paint the victims as threats despite evidence showing otherwise," Rep. Frost said in a statement. "Without firsthand recordings, those false narratives might have become the official story, which is why the Right to Record Act is so important. It would protect the public's ability to expose the truth without fear, giving individuals a legal path forward if an officer does violate their constitutional rights."
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), who introduced the Senate companion bill, commented, "Over the last year, I've investigated dozens of cases of Americans brutalized by agents of their own government, and across the board, video footage corroborated their testimony – showing the world what they experienced and making sure that justice was served."
"Without recordings, we wouldn't know the truth of what happened to Renee Nicole Good, Alex Pretti, Marimar Martinez, George Retes, and so, so many others," Sen. Blumenthal continued.
Meanwhile, on the Right...
The bill comes days after Representative Greg Steube (R-FL) and Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) introduced a bill to codify President Donald Trump's executive order designating ANTIFA as a domestic terrorist organization and directing federal resources toward its destruction.
"ANTIFA has spent years terrorizing communities, attacking law enforcement officers, and targeting ICE agents," Rep. Steube said in a statement. "These are not peaceful protesters. They are organized extremists who use violence and intimidation to advance a radical political agenda."
