Telles trial is an important one

An important trial in the world of journalism begins this week in Las Vegas when former Clark County public administrator Robert Telles is prosecuted for his alleged murder of Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German.
Telles is accused of killing German in September 2022 over articles the journalist had written about Telles’ conduct as a public official. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge, and has maintained he was framed for the killing. It’s important to note that every person charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. We understand that and support that. But, if Telles did in fact kill a reporter for doing the first and most important job of a free press—being the watchdog of the government for the people—then he should face the harshest of punishments. The prosecution has indicated it has what it calls “overwhelming evidence,” including Telles’ DNA under German’s fingernails, video of him leaving the scene and shredded clothing at his home that matched the clothing of the person leaving the German home. German was stabbed to death outside his home.
Four months before he was killed, German reported on allegations that Telles created a toxic workplace in the office and was maintaining an “inappropriate relationship” with another staffer.
This type of thing is not supposed to happen in the United States. It’s a scene that played out in las Vegas, but reads more like a scene one would see play out in Mexico or a third-world country where journalists are routinely killed by drug cartels or other nefarious characters for having the courage to report on the horrible things they are doing. In this country though? It’s beyond the pale.
Stories written about Telles paint the picture of a man who was drunk with power and unable to control his emotions. When a newspaper reporter called him out for those actions, he apparently snapped. Telles should have been told what all elected officials or government employees should be told when they accept a job: if you can’t take the scrutiny that comes with being paid through tax money, find another job.
By running for office or a position of authority within a government (city council, county commission, etc.) you are automatically signing up for the additional scrutiny that comes with that position. It’s part and parcel of the gig. If you get a DUI as a normal citizen, that’s not front page news. If you get a DUI as a city council member, that’s news. It’s part of the deal. Like it or not, that’s the way it is. It’s why we tell our newly-elected officials and/or government department heads “don’t do something we have to write about.”
Journalists doing the work of reporting on government must be protected at all costs. In this day and age of something being labeled “fake news” just because someone doesn’t want to hear the truth, it’s easy to go after the media. If you don’t want a free press, North Korea might be more to your liking.