IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa prosecutor is defending his unsuccessful pursuit of charges against a journalist who was arrested while covering a protest in a case that critics say amounted to an attack on the press. Polk County Attorney John Sarcone told The Associated Press on Thursday that the evidence against Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri was “more than sufficient” to take the case to trial and that dismissing it would have amounted to special treatment.

FILE – In this May 19, 2017, file photo, Polk County Attorney John Sarcone, speaks during a press conference at the Polk County Justice Center in Des Moines. Sarcone defended his unsuccessful pursuit of charges against a journalist who was arrested while covering a protest, saying Thursday, March 11, 2021, that he believed the evidence was strong and that dismissing the case would have amounted to special treatment. Polk County Attorney Sarcone, a Democrat who has held office since 1991, dismissed the outrage he has faced over his decision to prosecute Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri. (Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register via AP, File)

A Des Moines police officer pepper-sprayed and arrested Sahouri last May while she was covering a Black Lives Matter protest. Sahouri was charged with disobeying police orders to disperse and interfering with the officer who arrested her. A jury acquitted her on Wednesday.