Restraining order bars Ga. blogger from politician

DUNWOODY (AP) - A Georgia politician got a temporary restraining order earlier this week against a journalist blogger he accuses of threatening and harassing him. <br /> <br /> The writer, George Chidi, denied threatening the politician and said the move is a way for the candidate to avoid answering questions about his past ahead of an upcoming election. <br /> <br /> Chidi said he's writing a book on civic engagement in Georgia and wanted to interview DeKalb County Commission District 1 candidate Tom Owens about the public's perception of him. <br /> <br /> ``I hadn't approached him until he became a public figure,'' Chidi said. ``He's running for a seat that's open because the incumbent has resigned and is going to jail for corruption charges.'' <br /> <br /> Owens said Chidi didn't identify himself as a blogger or journalist, and that the protective order is based on the aggressive way Chidi approached him at a mid-September candidate forum. The order, which was issued Monday, accuses Chidi of stalking and says he also approached Owens at a suburban Atlanta swimming and tennis club on Sunday. <br /> <br /> ``He was very threatening, bombastic and he wouldn't identify himself as any type of reporter or blogger or anything,'' Owens said. ``I don't talk to anybody that threatens me.'' <br /> <br /> Chidi said he spoke with Owens twice in September before trying again earlier this week and sending a series of text messages. <br /> <br /> ``I wanted to give him every possible chance to answer the questions,'' Chidi said. <br /> <br /> A stipulation of the order bans Chidi from being within 100 yards of Owens or contacting him in any way. <br /> <br /> ``The principle of this is severely damaging to the civil process and to journalism,'' Chidi said. ``If a candidate for public office can shut off unfavorable coverage by abusing the temporary protective order process without penalty, that is going to happen to everybody. It is a standard practice to say that questions that you don't like are harassment,'' Chidi said. <br /> <br /> The two are due in court Oct. 22.