[Conscience of a Conservative]

There are no special privileges for anyone, not even Congressmen and cabinet members, except that Congressmen are exempt from arrest when traveling to and from Congress, and cannot be sued for statements made in chamber during deliberations.

There's an attorney-client privilege, doctor-patient privilege, spousal privilege, and and priest-penitent privilege. All of those privileges allow (and in many cases require) witnesses to withhold information depending on the source of the information. I don't think such a privilege ought to be extended to journalists, but it would not be unprecedented.

[Political Junkie Too]

Aren't there cases where even people in those situations have been compelled to testify unless they invoke their 5th amendment protections?

I wonder how much of this is related to the jailing of Judith Miller during the Scooter Libby investigation? Or more concerning, how much of this is Eric Holder wanting to deny protections under the cover of offering protections?

-PJ