LISBON, Ohio — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has announced that the criminal charges filed against NewsNation's reporter Evan Lambert have been dropped.
The news comes just one week after Lambert was arrested while attending Gov. Mike DeWine's press conference in East Palestine regarding the recent train derailment.
Lambert was accused of being "loud" during his live report while the governor was speaking, and the ordeal ended with him being tackled to the ground and handcuffed before being booked on misdemeanor charges.
“My office has reviewed the relevant video and documentary evidence, and is dismissing the charges against Evan Lambert as unsupported by sufficient evidence," said Yost in a statement. "While journalists could conceivably be subject to criminal charges for trespassing in some situations, this incident is not one of them. The reporter was lawfully present at a press conference called by the Governor of the state. His conduct was consistent with the purpose of the event and his role as a reporter.”
EDITOR'S NOTE: The video at the top of the story previously aired on 3News on Feb. 14, 2023.
Lambert was charged with resisting arrest, a second-degree misdemeanor, and criminal trespass, a fourth-degree misdemeanor.
“Regardless of the intent, arresting a journalist reporting at a press conference is a serious matter,” Yost said. “Ohio protects a free press under its constitution, and state officials should remember to exercise a heightened level of restraint in using arrest powers.”
Following the announcement, Lambert expressed his gratitude to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Yost.
On Tuesday, Gov. DeWine called for the charges against Lambert to be dropped.
"I have the same opinion that I had the first day," DeWine said. "It seems to me that everyone would be better off if the [Ohio] attorney general could see fit to ... not proceed with any kind of prosecution."
After being released from jail immediately after the incident in question, Lambert appeared on NewsNation.
“I’m doing fine right now. It’s been an extremely long day,” Lambert said after his release. “No journalist expects to be arrested when you’re doing your job, and I think that’s really important that that doesn’t happen in our country.”
Last week, the Ohio State Highway Patrol released body camera footage that shows the arrest of Lambert during the East Palestine news briefing. The full video can be watched below:
3News' Tyler Carey and Dave DeNatale contributed to this report.