Swampscott native arrested while covering Blago trial

SWAMPSCOTT – A Swampscott native was handcuffed at a federal courthouse in Illinois on Wednesday after he allegedly ignored the orders of a federal marshal.Douglas Belkin, 42, who is a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, was arrested on Wednesday when he was covering the corruption trial of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Belkin was arrested for allegedly failing to comply with rules in Chicago’s federal court building. According to U.S. Marshals Spokesman Belkis Cantor, Belkin was waiting in an area set aside for media in the lobby of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse when he left the area to pursue an interview with Attorney Sam Adam Sr., who is one of Blagojevich’s attorneys. According to published reports, Belkin was told three times to stop questioning Adam’s while the attorney tried to exit the federal courthouse.Cantor alleges Belkin was ordered to stop and failed to comply.Belkin, who is a 1986 graduate of Swampscott High School, was issued a misdemeanor citation Wednesday for failure to comply with signs and directions, and for touching a U.S. Marshal. He was released from custody and a hearing date has not been set.Wall Street Journal spokeswoman Ashley Huston says Belkin was wrongfully arrested and charged with petty offenses for routine newsgathering. According to Huston, the paper will fight the charges.Belkin, who is the son of Herb and Sylvia Belkin, was hired by the Wall Street Journal as a foreign correspondent in 2007. In the past, he worked for the Palm Beach Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, Melrose Free Press and was a bureau chief at The Boston Globe.When contacted at her Swampscott home on Friday evening, Sylvia Belkin said she stands by her son.”He is a first class journalist and a man of honor,” she said. “I can’t believe he put his hands on anyone.”Associated Press material was used in this report