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August 28, 2024 – USA –
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has welcomed the guilty verdict in the murder trial of former Clark County public administrator Robert Telles, marking a significant victory in the fight against violence targeting journalists. On August 28, 2024, a Las Vegas jury returned a unanimous verdict finding Telles guilty of first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of investigative reporter Jeff German—a veteran journalist who had exposed corruption in Telles’s office—and delivered a life sentence with a minimum of 20 years before parole eligibility
German, age 69, was found stabbed to death outside his home on September 2, 2022, hours after publishing a series of exposés outlining mismanagement and alleged misconduct by Telles, which contributed to the public official’s electoral defeat. In court, prosecutors emphasized that Telles carried out the murder out of vengeance, citing evidence that German “wasn’t done writing” about him. Telles’ DNA was found under German’s fingernails, and surveillance footage tied Telles to the scene.
The trial drew attention to the perils faced by investigative journalists, especially when probing abuses of power. CPJ noted that German was the only journalist killed in the U.S. in 2022, highlighting the rarity and seriousness of the conviction.
Media advocacy groups, including RSF, also applauded the verdict as a sign that the U.S. justice system can still protect journalists and hold assailants accountable.
This conviction stands as a landmark moment—not only delivering justice to German’s family and colleagues, but setting a powerful precedent that killing journalists for their reporting will not be tolerated. The thorough legal process—from investigation to prosecution and jury verdict—serves as a deterrent to would-be attackers and strengthens protections for journalists in future investigations.
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