Oscar-Nominated Director of Anti-Fracking Movie Arrested During Congressional Hearing

The Academy Award-nominated director of an anti-drilling documentary was arrested on Capitol Hill Wednesday after trying to film a congressional hearing on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, without proper credentials, according to multiple news reports.

Capitol Police charged Josh Fox, the director of the 2010 documentary "Gasland," with unlawful entry, the Associated Press reported.

As The Blaze previously reported, "Gasland" covers the environmental concerns of fracking, a method that involves drilling into rock and injecting high-pressure liquid, allowing natural gas to escape. Fracking has been blamed for recent small earthquakes in Oklahoma and Ohio, though researchers say the link has not been conclusively proven.

The oil and gas industry have criticized "Gasland" for what they say is a sensationalized attack on fracking, according to the AP. The film was nominated for an Academy Award last year.

Fox, who is working on a sequel to the documentary, was led out in handcuffs Wednesday morning before the House Science Committee panel hearing got underway, Politico reported.

"I'm within my First Amendment rights, and I'm being taken out," Fox shouted.

According to Politico, an ABC News crew was also turned away from the hearing. It is up to the committee chairman's discretion whether to allow uncredentialed members of the media to film hearings.

The Hill reported Republicans on the panel objected to filming by both Fox and the ABC crew. Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.) called for a vote on whether to permit the crews to film, but Republicans tabled the motion.

Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), chairman of the Energy and Environment subcommittee, noted before Miller's motion that the hearing was being webcast and said anyone filming the hearing would need proper credentials, Politico reported.