The Daily Swarm

Well, it’s official: Judge Gaughan ruled this morning that Sun Times reporter Jim DeRogatis must testify in R. Kelly’s child pornography trial. While he will not be compelled to reveal his sources, DeRogatis will have to submit to questioning about his reporting and the videotape that is at the center of the trial.

An immediate appeal will be filed by the Sun Times’ attorneys.

UPDATE: Sun Times – The Kelly Chronicles:

But Gaughan sided with Kelly’s attorney Marc Martin, saying that the reporter’s privilege only protects journalists from identifying their sources. Gaughan said he would not allow Kelly’s team to question DeRogatis about his sources, or to ask him how he got the tape, or to ask DeRogatis if he made a copy of the tape. “He will have to testify,” Gaughan concluded.

Gaughan also said DeRogatis would have to turn over any notes relating to that meeting with Sparkle, saying that he did not believe that would reveal anything about DeRogatis’s sources.

Previous testimony has shown that DeRogatis told police an anonymous tipster left the tape in his mailbox.

In ruling that DeRogatis must testify, Gaughan said the defense had said “seven times that they are not interested in his sources.”

Kelly’s attorneys say they believe DeRogatis may undermine the testimony of Stephanie “Sparkle” Edwards, who told police she had seen a copy of the tape with DeRogatis on a date after DeRogatis had passed the tape to police.

Martin told Gaughan, “This case began with Mr. DeRogatis passing on that tape and we certainly have a right to present that evidence to the jury.”

Martin added that DeRogatis had a “extreme bias” against Kelly.

EARLIER:

R. Kelly defense wants Jim DeRogatis to testify

Hitsville: Reporter subpoenaed in R. Kelly case!