Cable news reporters rifle through San Bernardino suspects' personal items on live TV
The suspected San Bernardino shooters' landlord reportedly opened Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik's apartment to the media Friday, allowing networks like MSNBC and CNN to live-broadcast reporters rifling through the couple's personal belongings. The searches raised questions about privacy, proper handling of a crime scene, and the ethics of such a live broadcast.
WATCH MORE: @DavidBegnaud enters #SanBernardino shooters' house, describes rooms https://t.co/yszMhTTJtP - @CBSNLive pic.twitter.com/xxqfQ39haX
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 4, 2015
Screenshots from MSNBC. I added the redout pic.twitter.com/Ttu3zJ0Fjj
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) December 4, 2015
This is the most appalling thing cable television news has done for at least a few days.
— Jonathan Shainin (@jonathanshainin) December 4, 2015
Though some were quick to blame the media for being intrusive, others also criticized law enforcement's apparent absence at what is apparently still being considered a crime scene (a duffel bag of pipe bombs was found at the home of the couple, who were shot and killed in a standoff with law enforcement hours after a shooting spree that left 14 victims dead).
Asked FBI Los Angeles if suspects' apartment now open to the media/public: “I don’t believe so…it is still an ongoing investigation.”
— Brian Ries (@moneyries) December 4, 2015
I’m not mad at MSNBC, actually. I’m mad at the FBI and the police.
— Michael B Dougherty (@michaelbd) December 4, 2015
MSNBC now cut from the live shot, maybe deciding not such a great idea to show unknown people's pics, driver's license[!] on live TV
— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) December 4, 2015
Update 1:29 p.m.: An FBI spokesperson has told reporters that the crime scene is no longer active.
FBI Spokesperson Lourdes Arocho: "The search is over at that location. We are going to have a press conference at 11 o'clock."
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) December 4, 2015