Charleston reporter arrested for asking question

Tom Heyman

Public News Service reporter Dan Heyman, who works out of Charleston, was arrested for asking Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price a question about the Republican health-care bill on May 9 in the State Capitol.

The charge, which drew a $5,000 bail:  “Willful Disruption of State Government Processes." Reporter Dan Heyman tried to ask Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price a question about the Republican health-care bill on May 9. He was arrested.

Heyman repeatedly asked the Secretary whether domestic violence would be considered a preexisting condition.

At the news conference, Heyman lawyer Tim DiPiero said he has never had a client arrested for “talking too loud.”

Heyman has been a reporter for 30 years. Since 2009, he has been a West Virginia-based producer and reporter for Public News Service, a nonprofit news service that provides content to media outlets while also publishing its own stories.