Jim Taricani

Jim Taricani was a WJAR television reporter in Providence, Rhode Island who in 2004 obtained and aired a portion of a videotape showing a Providence city official accepting a bribe from an undercover FBI informant. The tape was sealed evidence in an FBI investigation into corruption by Providence officials, including former Mayor Vincent Cianci Jr. Taricani was subpoenaed, but refused to reveal his source and was found in civil contempt of court. After a failed appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston, NBC (WJAR’s network) paid $85,000 in fines. Taricani was found in criminal contempt of court and was sentenced to six months of home confinement. He was granted early release after being confined for four months.