AP reports on Locy, still straddled with legal woes

The Associated Press reported Thursday on the ongoing legal woes of former USA Today reporter Toni Locy, who still faces the prospect of paying fees and attorney’s costs after refusing to reveal her sources in onetime government scientist Steven Hatfill’s Privacy Act lawsuit.  

Locy’s supporters had hoped Hatfill’s $5.8 million settlement with the Justice Department this summer would spell the end of her tumultuous involvement with his case: U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton earlier this year ordered her to identify sources she used in reporting on the government’s investigation into the 2001 anthrax attacks, which at one point focused on Hatfill. (He has since been cleared.)

Locy refused to give up her sources, and ended up with a contempt order and escalating legal fines of up to $5,000 a day.

Those fines were stayed while Locy appealed the order. A ruling on her appeal is still pending.

Last month, though, Hatfill filed a motion seeking the dismissal of Locy’s appeal and indicating he would seek to collect attorney fees from her — certain to be a sizeable tab of its own, at this point. Locy responded by asking the appeals court not to dismiss her case.