Feds drop charges vs. Swampscott WSJ writer

SWAMPSCOTT – Charges against a Swampscott native who was handcuffed at a federal courthouse in July for allegedly ignoring the orders of a federal marshal were dropped.Douglas Belkin, 42, who is a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, was arrested in July at a courthouse in Illinois while 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.Randall Samborn, who is press spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago, confirmed citations issued against Belkin were dismissed Monday. He declined to comment further.Wall Street Journal Senior Director of Corporate Communications Ashley Huston says the Wall Street Journal has stood by Belkin and is pleased the matter is resolved.”We are gratified that the citations against Doug have been dropped and this matter is now over,” Huston said.At the time of the arrest, U.S. Marshals spokesman Belkis Cantor said 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 Sam Adam Sr., who is one of Blagojevich’s attorneys.According to published reports, Belkin was told several times to stop questioning Adam’s while the attorney was trying to leave the federal courthouse. Cantor alleged Belkin was ordered to stop and failed to comply.Belkin, who is a 1986 graduate of Swampscott High School, was issued a misdemeanor citation for failure to comply with signs and directions, and for touching a U. S. Marshal.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.His mother Sylvia Belkin, who resides in Swampscott, said she is thrilled her son was vindicated.”This is great news for us,” she said.