Media groups concerned by Justice Dept. investigation of CIA leak; prepared to oppose subpoenas

Associated Press ^ | 09-30-03

[Brian S]

Media organizations prepared Tuesday to oppose any efforts by the Justice Department to subpoena journalists and their notes to learn who leaked the identity of an undercover CIA agent to columnist Robert Novak.

Subpoenas could be challenged on the basis of First Amendment guarantees of freedom of the press, said Bill Felber, editor of The Manhattan (Kan.) Mercury and freedom of information chairman for the Associated Press Managing Editors. But they could also be challenged, he said, if they were too broad or if the information could be obtained in other ways.

[Grampa Dave]

Ping the admin moderator. They keep track of who imputs key words.

You just caught a troll using keywords!

[cwb]

They are disgusting maggots.

[NEPA]

I like it.

The media would love to screw Bush (Big Time) and this is actually their chance if, -IF,- the White House is behind the leak.

They have to decide is short term gain("getting" Bush) worth the possible long term consequences (anonymous sources would clam up).

[Chad Fairbanks]

Keyword Troll is back...

[Grampa Dave]

I made that possible connection yesterday after reading Wolfstar's transcript of Wilson talking to Moyers earlier this year and defending what GW planned to do.

Then Shazaam! He turns like a certain former Marine UN Inspector did and became anti Bush and anti the war in Iraq.

$inator Hildebea$t probably has some great FBI files and pictures of him. Since he is not an Episcopal Bishop, he would have do what was asked of him.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Givem enough rope and they will hang themselves G.W.B. is like the Road Runner

MEEP MEEP ZOOOOOOOOOOM

[Dog]

This is a national security case I would think they could be compelled to comply with the subpoenas...

[Chad Fairbanks]

SO, based on the available info, we both reached a similar conclusion... sounds about right LOL

[Grampa Dave]

Now, you are starting to sound like me, calling them maggots.

[piasa]

But if the press thinks that finding those who leaked is important for the good of the country, and the good of the country includes a free press, then it stands to reason that in this case, where leakers were said to be so dastardly, where the press cried about the damage the leaker did to national security, that the press would eagerly join forces with the DOJ to try to catch the culprit and save "countless operative's lives" , helping to preserve their own security in the process. I mean, this is their country too and if the country goes down, they go down.

Now all the sudden they think their sources are more important than all those operatives' lives that Plamed, are important than America itself?

(/sarcasm)

[Toskrin]

My guess is the leak is Plame herself. Novak probably just asked a couple of White House officials if they would deny she was an agent, and they didn't.

[Dog]

I think you are correct.........they want this as a issue.........they don't want this fully investigated.

[Miss Marple]

HA! Now we know why Chuckie Schumer and the rest were wanting an independent counsel. They KNOW that the leaks came from Rats, or were manufactured.

Subpoenas all around, I say! Let's here who the evil leaker was! HA!

[Grampa Dave]

We are not by ourselves.

Yesterday, Wolfstar reposted her original thread on Wilson's interview earlier this year before the invasion. Hell, he made a great case for Regime Change.

Then he turned into a PMS stricken Pit Bull full of hatred for GW.

When a man turns that fast, one of the first possibilities is that he has been compromised. Then, he has become the PMS Stricken Pit Bull who attacks on command by those who have the black mail data.

[Chad Fairbanks]

No, that's the thing - the rats don't want an independent counsel - they know America is fed up with IC's, so they are merely posturing...

It would almost be funny if the repubs said "Ok, let's get an Independent Counsel!"... aaaaaaaahahahahahahahaha

[Chad Fairbanks]

I sincerely hope Wilson hasn't been hanging out at Burger King while his wife was off being Secret Agent Woman ;0)

[piasa]

What worries journalists is that any attempt to ask them to give up their notes and sources could dissuade future whistle-blowers from coming forward, said APME President Ed Jones, editor of The Free Lance-Star of Fredericksburg, Va.

"The record is clear that leaks certainly are messy as seen by government administrators, but the track record of those leaks producing very important public information is extensive," Jones said. "It would be unfortunate if there's a chilling effect. And I think there would be a chilling effect. Anonymity, confidentiality would be compromised."

Ah. I see that what they really mean is that THEIR sources are a sacred trust, but Novak's sources are not and should be investigated.

[Dog]

Who are the freeper lawyers?

We need to ask one of them if the media can be compelled to answer the subpoena.

[ctonious]

I guess the Media thinks enemas are for everybody else...