David Gregory of ‘Meet the Press’ Under Investigation for Gun Magazine Display, NBC & Wall Street Journal Dismiss Claims

By Staff Reporter | Dec 27, 2012 05:57 PM EST

An NBC insider says the investigation against The 'Meet the Press' David Gregory, who is being investigated for displaying gun magazines on the show, is unjustified and absurd.

The inside source, who remains anonymous, told The Huffington Post that the show's staff received permission from Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives before airing the segment.

"The 'Meet the Press,' David Gregory incident," Alali told Poltico. "There are D.C. code violations, D.C. code restrictions on guns, ammunition. We are investigating this matter. Beyond the scope of that, I can't comment any further."

However, D.C. police denied the claims, insinuating the network was lying.

"NBC contacted the Metropolitan Police Dept. inquiring if they could utilize a high capacity magazine for this segment," said Alali, according to the Huffington Post. "NBC was informed that possession of a high capacity magazine is not permissible and the request was denied." 

Gregory is currently being investigated for showing 30-round gun magazine during his interview last Sunday with the Vice President of the National Rifle Association, Wayne LaPierre, in which Gregory probing the guess on the issue of gun-control in light of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

The Wall Street Journal, editorial board  a released a statement in the journalist's defense calling the claims by law enforcement "entirely nonsensical."

"Mr. Gregory interrogates Mr. LaPierre on the subject of whether to ban a magazine that it is illegal for Mr. Gregory to display but apparently easy enough to acquire in time for a Sunday morning broadcast. So here we have a possible indictment that would be entirely nonsensical of a journalist who was trying to embarrass an NRA official over an ammunition ban whose impact would be entirely symbolic," according the statement released by The Wall Street Journal. 

Read the entire statement here.

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