Updated October 16, 2026, 4:31 p.m. ET
Rep. Andy Harris, Republican of Maryland, refused to apologize to the student journalist he threatened to sue after she recorded him at an Oct. 13 media rally.
During an interview with Fox45 In Depth on October 16, Harris told anchor Mikenzie Frost that “at the end of the day, it’s not very interesting that the liberal media is harassing a conservative politician.”
“If she called me and asked me the question, I would tell her what bothers her is that she didn’t ask the question, she criticized the way I conducted the press conference,” Harris said when asked if he felt he owed the reporter an apology. “She’s a journalism major. I think she should realize that’s not really your goal. I think we’ll talk about it.”
In a video captured on October 13, Harris told University of Maryland student journalist Cat Murphy, who was part of a media group in Cambridge, Maryland, that she did not have permission to record her while she tried to ask questions.
“You don’t have my permission to record. If you record, we will refer you to the prosecutor,” Harris said. Murphy responded that others in the room were also recording the congressman. “But you’re not allowed to. We’re in a two-party state,” Harris continued, appearing to reference Maryland’s wiretapping and electronic surveillance law.
According to the Maryland General Assembly, the law generally prohibits the recording of private conversations without the consent of all parties. But in comments to CBS News Baltimore, attorney Jeremy Eldridge said the law did not apply to the Oct. 13 interaction because it took place in a public place.
Murphy continued to question Harris, asking him about the ongoing war in Iran.
“You’re going to have to take his camera,” Harris said. “She’s breaking the law. In fact, get an officer here.”
Harris has served as U.S. Representative for Maryland since 2011. USA TODAY reached out to Harris’ office several times for comment.
In an interview with CNN this week, Murphy said the attention to the incident “has been tremendous.”
“I’m not going to lie, it’s a lot,” she said. “But I was focused on my work and my questions that I wanted answered and I think I did that.”
What happened?
The confrontation took place after a debate between Harris and her Democratic challenger Dan Schwartz, during which spectators repeatedly challenged Harris on rising fuel prices and the war in Iran. During one exchange, a woman in the audience could be heard laughing as Harris discussed diesel prices.
“Let’s get the facts straight. The facts are that diesel prices have gone up, there’s no doubt about that. Why have they gone up? Because Democrats have environmental regulations,” Harris said.
Harris then turned his attention to the audience member.
“Ma’am, I have to tell you. That’s the problem, you all say you believe there is a First Amendment, but only if you agree with it,” Harris said. “You should let me finish the sentence, ma’am. You’re being rude. You’re being rude, okay?”
The exchange intensified as audience members challenged Harris throughout the event.
The University and the Society of Professional Journalists respond to the incident
In a statement shared on social media on Oct. 14, University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism Dean Rafael Lorente said he was proud of the student journalist for how she handled the difficult situation.
“Cat Murphy is a master’s student at the University of Maryland, credentialed as a reporter for our Capital News Service and doing the work we teach our students. Cat recorded openly in a public space alongside other media outlets, and that is her legal right,” Lorente said in her statement.
The Society of Professional Journalists said it was “deeply concerned” by Harris’ threat against Murphy.
“Journalists must be able to do their work without intimidation or threats of prosecution for routine news-gathering activities,” the organization said in a statement released on October 14. “We stand with student journalists who ask tough questions and document public officials in public places, and urge elected officials to respect the role of a free press.”
Can you legally register someone in Maryland?
Maryland is commonly referred to as an “all parties consent” state because state law generally requires that everyone involved in a private conversation provide consent before it is recorded.
But the law applies to private communications for which participants have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Courts have generally found that conversations that take place in public places or in circumstances where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy can be recorded.
It was not immediately clear whether the circumstances of the October 13 media brawl would be subject to the law.
Greta Cross is a national trends reporter at USA TODAY. An idea for a story? Send him an email to gcross@usatoday.com.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
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