Federal court sides with reporter in source dispute

DETROIT (AP) — A retired Detroit newspaper reporter who refused to reveal his source for an unflattering story about a prosecutor has won a key ruling from a federal appeals court.

The court said there’s nothing wrong with David Ashenfelter invoking his constitutional right against self-incrimination.

At the Detroit Free Press, Ashenfelter wrote a story in 2004 about an ethics investigation involving Richard Convertino, who was a federal prosecutor.

Convertino sued the U.S. Justice Department, claiming his privacy was violated by someone who gave a confidential report to Ashenfelter.

With the ruling, Ashenfelter says his “legal nightmare may finally be over.”