Posted on 02/11/2006 10:02:38 AM PST by 68skylark
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 Federal agents have interviewed officials at several of the country's law enforcement and national security agencies in a rapidly expanding criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding a New York Times article published in December that disclosed the existence of a highly classified domestic eavesdropping program, according to government officials.
The investigation, which appears to cover the case from 2004, when the newspaper began reporting the story, is being closely coordinated with criminal prosecutors at the Justice Department, the officials said. People who have been interviewed and others in the government who have been briefed on the interviews said the investigation seems to lay the groundwork for a grand jury inquiry that could lead to criminal charges.
The inquiry is progressing as a debate about the eavesdropping rages in Congress and elsewhere. President Bush has condemned the leak as a "shameful act." Others, like Porter J. Goss, the C.I.A. director, have expressed the hope that reporters would be summoned before a grand jury and asked to reveal the identities of those who provided them classified information.
Mr. Goss, speaking at a Senate intelligence committee hearing on Feb. 2, said, "It is my aim, and it is my hope that we will witness a grand jury investigation with reporters present being asked to reveal who is leaking this information. I believe the safety of this nation and the people this country deserve nothing less." The case is viewed in as potentially far reaching because it places on a collision course constitutional principles that each side regards as paramount. For the government, the investigation represents an effort to punish those responsible for a serious security breach....For news organizations, the inquiry threatens its ability to protect sources and report on controversial national security issues free of government interference....
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I don't think any of this would have happened so quickly if it harming our national security weren't a foregone conclusion.
It won't come to that of course, but if it ever did I'm sure most could teach the cellblock homos some fancy New York tricks. They might enjoy it more than you think.
IMHO,The possesion of FBI files or/copies that she is not authorized to possess,Constitutes "Illegal Domestic Spying"
Who hired Craig Livingstone??
The article is dated tomorrow. It wasn't up on their website late last night. This will be in the Sunday papers.
That's interesting. We'll see.
Yes, the quality of the brie and chardonnay there is terrible.
PING!
Reporters don't hold clearance and cannot be prosecuted (except for contempt, e.g., Judith Miller).
Which is why I hope the NSA leakers get very long sentences in Leavenworth. They had internal policies for recourse, and they ignored them. Violated them. Intentionally.
This has got to stop.
People need to go to jail.
There's no chance the NYTs nor any other MSM people will have to go to jail. John McCain won't allow it. It might cost him some media time and support.
NAZI CODES BROKEN
Army Possesses Encryption Machine
This government has got to start prosecuting the people who are responsible for this. That more than anything else will help put a stop to it. As of now, there are simply no consequences. We hear all the time how we are a nation of laws and no one is above the law, but they really don't believe that and I pretty much don't anymore either. It does not apply to certain powerful or well connected people so it's a complete sham.
If you expand the investigation from one person to two people, you are expanding it by 200%...ergo "rapidly expanding criminal investigation."
What does this really mean? Any truly helpful details here?
(For news organizations, the inquiry threatens its ability to protect sources and report on controversial national security issues free of government interference....)
You are right. This is the best quote. This story is far from just "controversial". The words "treasonous", "backstabbing", "un-American", "aid and comfort to the enemy" come to mind.
a) Whoever knowingly and willfully communicates, furnishes, transmits, or otherwise makes available to an unauthorized person, or publishes, or uses in any manner prejudicial to the safety or interest of the United States or for the benefit of any foreign government to the detriment of the United States any classified information
(1) concerning the nature, preparation, or use of any code, cipher, or cryptographic system of the United States or any foreign government; or
Spells it out quite simply, doesn't it? Even an illiterate could read and understand this information. What's that say about the slimes?
And what Livingstone's cohort - CID staffer Anthony Marceca - doing across the Potomac in Ft. Belvior running NCIC computer checks against the protected records of prominent DC political figures whom he was under no apparent authority to be investigating?
David Bossie knew about it. Charlie Bass knew about it. Bob Livingstone knew about it.
But it's all water under the bridge now.
Hang 'em high!
The investigation could be virtually FREE if the NYT's publisher, or an editor, or a reporter would tell the FBI who leaked.
But that's only a dream.
The pasty effete traitors at the Slimes put their non-existent right against revealing sources before the safety and security of the American people.
It seems they actually WANT to be thrown in the slammer.
The publisher and staff personnel at the Times have a hatred for Bush to a point of sheer madness which affects their personalities and their journalistic careers.
Leni
A blast from the past
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.