Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

White House Trains Efforts on Media Leaks. Sources, Reporters Could Be Prosecuted
WP ^ | march 5, 2006 | Dan Eggen

Posted on 03/04/2006 9:27:25 PM PST by FairOpinion

The Bush administration, seeking to limit leaks of classified information, has launched initiatives targeting journalists and their possible government sources. The efforts include several FBI probes, a polygraph investigation inside the CIA and a warning from the Justice Department that reporters could be prosecuted under espionage laws.

In recent weeks, dozens of employees at the CIA, the National Security Agency and other intelligence agencies have been interviewed by agents from the FBI's Washington field office, who are investigating possible leaks that led to reports about secret CIA prisons and the NSA's warrantless domestic surveillance program, according to law enforcement and intelligence officials familiar with the two cases.

The Justice Department also argued in a court filing last month that reporters can be prosecuted under the 1917 Espionage Act for receiving and publishing classified information. The brief was filed in support of a case against two pro-Israeli lobbyists, who are the first nongovernment officials to be prosecuted for receiving and distributing classified information.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 1917; 1917espionageact; benedictarnolds; billkeller; d; enemywithin; gwot; hangingoffence; keller; leakers; leaks; looselips; media; mediots; msm; nsa; presstitutes; spying; terrorism; treasonforprofit; washingtonpost; wot
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-5051-100101-105 next last
It's about time!

I hope they won't back off from this.

1 posted on 03/04/2006 9:27:29 PM PST by FairOpinion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion

Full speed ahead I just hope they het tried for Treason !


2 posted on 03/04/2006 9:30:33 PM PST by ATOMIC_PUNK (The Death Penalty isn't for making examples it's for making bad people DEAD!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion

This is one of the reasons the heat has been on the WH. The rats are trying to make them back down. I hope the WH presses on and slams these guys good.


3 posted on 03/04/2006 9:32:17 PM PST by DarthVader (Conservatives aren't always right , but Liberals are almost always wrong.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion

II hope so also.


4 posted on 03/04/2006 9:35:07 PM PST by antceecee (Reagan Democrat and now a Bush Republican...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion
The New York Times was repeatedly asked not to publish info on the NSA program. They knew the material was classified; they knew the program was important to national security; they knew they didn't have the right to have the information or the authority to declassify it; and they knew publishing it would communicate the sensitive information to the enemies of the United States. The reporter included the material in a book which he intended to personally profit from knowing that it would expose secrets that the US was spending a fortune to protect. If those Americans go to the slammer for providing the information to a friendly power (Israel) why should those that gave Top Secret Compartmentalized information stay out of jail?
5 posted on 03/04/2006 9:35:57 PM PST by airedale ( XZ)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DarthVader

I get this feeling that Alberto Gonzales is a good attack dog and a close friend of Bush....I think Alberto is fed up with the liberal mantra and will do what is needed to get the MSN to realize the struggle we are up against. No prisoners this time.


6 posted on 03/04/2006 9:36:56 PM PST by skimask (Ezekiel: 25/17)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: skimask

You are right. Bush is letting loose the dogs of war.


7 posted on 03/04/2006 9:40:33 PM PST by DarthVader (Conservatives aren't always right , but Liberals are almost always wrong.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion

I agree, about time. But the loonies will start screeching freedom of speech...yet again.

Average citizen will hear on MSM that Bush is trying to take away our rights......
Morons.


8 posted on 03/04/2006 9:41:23 PM PST by Shortstop7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DarthVader

"Bush is letting loose the dogs of war."


And it's high time.

These leaks, such as about the NSA wiretapping of terrorists, DO indeed jeopardize national security. Definitely past time to stop that, with whatever drastic measures are necessary.


9 posted on 03/04/2006 9:42:59 PM PST by FairOpinion (Real Conservatives do NOT help Dems get elected.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion
The Justice Department also argued in a court filing last month that reporters can be prosecuted under the 1917 Espionage Act

Interesting ....

10 posted on 03/04/2006 9:43:17 PM PST by TeleStraightShooter (The Right To Take Life is NOT a Constitutional "Liberty" protected by the 14th Amendment)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion

Great news and I hope it happens. They won't have to prosecute and jail too many "journalists" before they'll get the message, jail is not fun.


11 posted on 03/04/2006 9:43:24 PM PST by jazusamo (:Gregory was riled while Hume smiled:)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion

Bush has been too timid with his adversaries in the past. I hope he goes for the jugular now.


12 posted on 03/04/2006 9:44:26 PM PST by umgud (gitrdun)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion
Charge and jail the traitors! There is personal responsibility to freedom. You cannot yell FIRE in a theater; they are causing GI's to die; hang those who are at fault: if you dare!
13 posted on 03/04/2006 9:44:30 PM PST by olinr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Shortstop7

Freedom of speech doesn't apply to revealing highly classified information that endangers national security.

There are already laws on the books against that, with long, long jail terms, they just haven't been enforcing it, when it applied to journalists and members of Congress.


14 posted on 03/04/2006 9:44:33 PM PST by FairOpinion (Real Conservatives do NOT help Dems get elected.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion
The proverbial "money quote:"

"There's a tone of gleeful relish in the way they talk about dragging reporters before grand juries, their appetite for withholding information, and the hints that reporters who look too hard into the public's business risk being branded traitors," said New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller, in a statement responding to questions from The Washington Post. "I don't know how far action will follow rhetoric, but some days it sounds like the administration is declaring war at home on the values it professes to be promoting abroad."

Can you believe the unmitigated GALL of that guy?

15 posted on 03/04/2006 9:44:35 PM PST by Howlin ("Quick, he's bleeding! Is there a <strike>doctor</strike> reporter in the house?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion

your link is rather ... dead.


16 posted on 03/04/2006 9:46:01 PM PST by TeleStraightShooter (The Right To Take Life is NOT a Constitutional "Liberty" protected by the 14th Amendment)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: airedale
Read full article here The Espionage Act makes it a crime for a government official with access to "national defense information" to communicate it intentionally to any unauthorized person. A 1950 amendment aimed at Soviet spying broadened the law, forbidding an unauthorized recipient of the information to pass it on, or even to keep it to himself.

(WaPo down right now while posting)

17 posted on 03/04/2006 9:46:10 PM PST by p23185
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion

Sounds too good to be true. I hope I'm wrong.


18 posted on 03/04/2006 9:48:09 PM PST by Dont Mention the War (This tagline is false.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TeleStraightShooter

It seems like the Washington Post website is down.

I tried to just go to their main page, and that didn't work either.


19 posted on 03/04/2006 9:48:54 PM PST by FairOpinion (Real Conservatives do NOT help Dems get elected.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

All they have to do is squeeze one or two real hard and those liberals will give up their mothers to save their asses. They are gutless cowards. The "Enlightened one's" my a@@@


20 posted on 03/04/2006 9:49:49 PM PST by skimask (Ezekiel: 25/17)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion
"they have worsened the already-tense relationship between mainstream news organizations and the White House."

I guess that once it reaches the bottom of the barrel there's nothing left worry about? The LSM is now attacking with the worst skewed polls and most pathetic terrorist sympathy articles ever. Hear the one about the poor apple selling innocent, kidnapped by the Taliban, forced as their cook, non-terrorist, held at Gitmo? According to the LSM just at the wrong place at the wrong time?
21 posted on 03/04/2006 9:50:06 PM PST by Wasanother (Terrorist come in many forms but all are RATS.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: p23185; FairOpinion; TeleStraightShooter

Freepmail.


22 posted on 03/04/2006 9:50:21 PM PST by Howlin ("Quick, he's bleeding! Is there a <strike>doctor</strike> reporter in the house?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion

The Washington Post doesn't mention - for obvious reasons - the recent leak by their own reporter Dana Priest regarding the CIA detention and transport of suspected enemies in foreign countries. Like the NY Times' NSA story, the was a criminal leak which damaged our security.

And now I'm going to check if the Justice Department memo re prosecution of reporters is posted anywhere online...


23 posted on 03/04/2006 9:51:23 PM PST by BCrago66
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TeleStraightShooter; airedale; p23185

Same article also at MSNBC, and that link works -- the site is up, at least right now.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/11676209/

Or you can read it at a China site:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-03/05/content_4259931.htm


24 posted on 03/04/2006 9:52:19 PM PST by FairOpinion (Real Conservatives do NOT help Dems get elected.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Howlin

Thank you.


25 posted on 03/04/2006 9:52:27 PM PST by TeleStraightShooter (The Right To Take Life is NOT a Constitutional "Liberty" protected by the 14th Amendment)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: skimask

You got that right. And there will be a couple just to push them to the limits. Can't wait for it to happen and if it's on Court TV, I'll watch it with pleasure.


26 posted on 03/04/2006 9:52:57 PM PST by jazusamo (:Gregory was riled while Hume smiled:)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: TeleStraightShooter

No problem. I saw it earlier.


27 posted on 03/04/2006 9:54:39 PM PST by Howlin ("Quick, he's bleeding! Is there a <strike>doctor</strike> reporter in the house?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: BCrago66
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/3/4/195915/9513

Take a look at this one.....the Bush crime syndicate is going after patriotic "Whistle blowers" LOL

28 posted on 03/04/2006 9:55:13 PM PST by skimask (Ezekiel: 25/17)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion
Bout damn time is right! And not just reporters, but Rockefeller,Durbin,etc.
29 posted on 03/04/2006 9:58:39 PM PST by smoothsailing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

Related article:

Bush administration tries to plug leaks

http://www.washtimes.com/upi/20060304-095222-4133r.htm


The White House has begun an all-out offensive against leaks like those that led to the revelation of warrantless wiretapping, the Washington Post reported.

FBI agents have been interviewing employees of intelligence agencies, including the CIA and National Security Agency. They are investigating the sources of New York Times stories on NSA wiretapping and secret detention centers in Europe.

In California, the FBI office in Los Angeles is probing a Sacramento Bee story that used sealed court documents in a terrorism case.


30 posted on 03/04/2006 9:58:57 PM PST by FairOpinion (Real Conservatives do NOT help Dems get elected.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion

I really hope so. The MSM harbors many traitors to our nation, as does the governmental beaurocracy. People become loyal to their jobs and nothing else.


31 posted on 03/04/2006 9:59:01 PM PST by arjay (I would rather be right than consistent.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Shortstop7
>>>But the loonies will start screeching freedom of speech...yet again. <<

Yep! "I wasn't revealing secrets, I am a whistle-blower attempting to reign in the illegal spying of the Bush administration".

This will be a donnybrook....with the MSM and Democrats at high screech; it will be a tough battle. We need to send Bush and Co. messages of support on this!

This is a fight for the right to protect our way of life!

32 posted on 03/04/2006 9:59:43 PM PST by HardStarboard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: TeleStraightShooter

The Washington Post website is now offline.


33 posted on 03/04/2006 9:59:46 PM PST by HAL9000 (Get a Mac - The Ultimate FReeping Machine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: HAL9000

Same article also at MSNBC, and that link works -- the site is up, at least right now.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/11676209/


34 posted on 03/04/2006 10:01:04 PM PST by FairOpinion (Real Conservatives do NOT help Dems get elected.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion

Been waiting for this!!! Yeah!!!!


35 posted on 03/04/2006 10:01:11 PM PST by freema (Proud Marine FRiend, Mom, Aunt, Sister, Friend, Wife, Daughter, Niece)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion

I have a hard time believing they will do anything about it, even if they do find out who it is. They have had numerous chances to go after RATS who were caught red handed with they paws in the cookie jar and they let them go! I have no reason to believe they will do anything about this either. It's just more hot air. IMO!


36 posted on 03/04/2006 10:02:09 PM PST by NRA2BFree
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freema

I want to see some traitor perp-walks!


37 posted on 03/04/2006 10:03:11 PM PST by FairOpinion (Real Conservatives do NOT help Dems get elected.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion
Bush has been trying to play the nice guy while getting the heck beat out of him by the LSM but I think those days are numbered. I'd like to see him toughen up the media relations people like Little Scotty. He should have tore Gregory a new one when he was on his little rant.
38 posted on 03/04/2006 10:03:29 PM PST by Wasanother (Terrorist come in many forms but all are RATS.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion

If I were the Bush Administration and had the press repeating the mantra of poor poll numbers even though the poll was subject to a major sampling error, I would pull out the stops and grind the MSM to a pulp. It American press is feeding the public poop and the American public is being poisoned, it is time for a reality check. The American public needs an object lesson so they learn not to eat everything the press spoons out to them.


39 posted on 03/04/2006 10:10:08 PM PST by jonrick46
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion
FINALLY! Let's write and let them know we expect them NOT to back down.

Good gravy, this the only way we can stop these traitors. Socialists will turn tail and run - and turn on each other - quicker than you can say Jack Sprat, if they think they will be held accountable for their own actions.

And there's another step that must be taken in Washington: bringing frivolous and unfounded charges against people to destroy their career - this needs to be stopped. This is straight out of the communist/John Birch Society handbooks. If someone brings scurrilous charges without clear proof - they should be subject to investigation themselves.

40 posted on 03/04/2006 10:17:18 PM PST by maine-iac7 ("...BUT YOU CAN'T FOOL ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME." Lincoln)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion

When it comes to national security, punish leakers and reporters. In the Philippines Arroyo wants to go after people in the media who report on her opponents demonstrations and her corruption, clearing violating freedom of the press and speech. But here the MSM is aiding and abetting the terrorists who want to destroy America by revealing our security operations. If its a war then this kind of leaking and reporting has to stop.


41 posted on 03/04/2006 10:18:39 PM PST by Nextrush (The Chris Matthews Band: "I get high..I get high...I get high..McCain.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Howlin
Can you believe the unmitigated GALL of that guy?

He's lashing out in death spasms.
Washington Post Profits Fall

For months the MSM has been assualting Dubya non-stop. This has resulted in continued lose of consumers as people flee to the new media for information.

At some point the WP will be unable to reveal national secrets because no one will read them.

42 posted on 03/04/2006 10:22:19 PM PST by Once-Ler (The rat 06 election platform will be a promise to impeach the President if they win.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: skimask
will do what is needed to get the MSN to realize the struggle we are up against. No prisoners this time.

the MSM already realizes the struggle we are up against - and they are willing partners in aiding and abetting the enemy.

The only way they will back off is if they are finally held accountable - individual by individual. Socialists not only back down if they know their feet will be held to the fire, they will turn on each other to save their own yellow hides...

43 posted on 03/04/2006 10:22:58 PM PST by maine-iac7 ("...BUT YOU CAN'T FOOL ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME." Lincoln)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Nextrush

"But here the MSM is aiding and abetting the terrorists who want to destroy America by revealing our security operations"


===

Exactly. They are causing irreversible damage.


44 posted on 03/04/2006 10:23:26 PM PST by FairOpinion (Real Conservatives do NOT help Dems get elected.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion
Oops. Looks like they have pulled the article. I have tried 3 times to go to your link and I get "The requested URL could not be retrieved". What else did it say? I want the sob's PROSECUTED.
45 posted on 03/04/2006 10:23:49 PM PST by used2BDem (Navy Vet (Navy Mom))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FairOpinion

Yeah, that one is working.

Thanks.


46 posted on 03/04/2006 10:24:13 PM PST by Shortstop7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: used2BDem

WP site seems to be down.

Same article also at MSNBC, and that link works -- the site is up, at least right now.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/11676209/


47 posted on 03/04/2006 10:25:23 PM PST by FairOpinion (Real Conservatives do NOT help Dems get elected.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: Wasanother

I agree. Gregory should have been kicked to hell and back.

What a loser.


48 posted on 03/04/2006 10:27:46 PM PST by Shortstop7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: Howlin

How would Keller feel if the attack the "spying" on terrorist phone calls to the United States stopped was one on the New York Times building? Does the NYT give a rip about those killed on 9/11 and trying to see to it that doesn't happen to more people? Keller has the wrong priorities. His first should be to defend America and other nations from being overrun by terrorists and friends(Islamofascists) who don't care about freedoms he claims to be defending? Hating Republicans and Bush is more important then stopping the terrorists, I guess.

This is the stupid thinking that sunk France to the Nazis in 1940. Everybody followed their party line instead of fighting Nazis. The Islamofascists are the enemy. Get it.


49 posted on 03/04/2006 10:30:02 PM PST by Nextrush (The Chris Matthews Band: "I get high..I get high...I get high..McCain.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: maine-iac7

You got it! Write letters folks! Call, email whatever. Just do it.


50 posted on 03/04/2006 10:31:28 PM PST by Shortstop7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-5051-100101-105 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson