Judge finds Post reporter in contempt (Walter Pincus/WaPo - Wen Ho Lee investigation)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 11/16/05 | Pete Yost - ap

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON - A federal judge found Washington Post reporter Walter Pincus in contempt Wednesday, saying the journalist must reveal his government sources for stories about the criminal investigation of nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee.

U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer said that "in order to avoid a repetition of the Judith Miller imbroglio," Pincus must contact his sources to inform them of the court's order in case they wish to release him from his pledge of confidentiality.

Miller, a former New York Times reporter, served 85 days in jail for contempt in the CIA leak investigation, agreeing to talk only after she spoke by telephone with her source, former top White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby.

The ruling is the latest example of court-ordered pressure on journalists to reveal their confidential sources.

Relying on anonymous sources, Pincus and reporters for other news organizations in 1999 identified Lee as the focus of a criminal investigation into the possible theft of nuclear secrets on behalf of China.

Never charged with espionage and eventually allowed to plead guilty to a single count of mishandling computer files, Lee is seeking the identity of the reporters' sources for his lawsuit against the departments of Energy and Justice. Lee says the government improperly disclosed personal information about him in violation of the Privacy Act.

"The transcendent importance of a free press is that reporters can report the news and express opinions without fear of government oppression or interference," Collyer wrote. "The right to keep confidential an anonymous source is not 'transcendent' in the same sense; this is clear because the privilege is qualified even under the stirring language of the Constitution."

This month, a federal appeals court rejected four journalists' appeal of a judge's order directing them to testify about their confidential sources in the Lee case.

The reporters are H. Josef Hebert of The Associated Press, James Risen of The New York Times, Robert Drogin of the Los Angeles Times and Pierre Thomas, formerly of CNN and now of ABC.

"Mr. Pincus is no less important as a potential witness concerning government leaks than the journalists from other media outlets, and the court finds no basis to reach a different decision concerning him."

[NormsRevenge]

Walter Pincus

[MJY1288]

This should be interesting

[MJY1288]

Jail Pincus the Pinko

[razorback-bert]

sweet

[Cicero]

Throw away the keys.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Reporters: Tell the truth in a four-square manner and you will have no problems with the law. Just like the rest of us.

[Palladin]

HA! The HEAT is ON!!!

[Texas Songwriter]

Did they frog-march him in shackles to the jail? If not, why not?

[CFC__VRWC]

Hmm, Matthew Mosk and MD4Bush, Woodward, now Pincus. All of a sudden the Compost is having a perfect week from hell. May they have many, many more of them.

[coloradan]

He hasn't refused yet, so he hasn't committed a crime yet. Soon, though.

[muawiyah]

Ol' Walt probably called his handlers in Peiping and asked them who the perp was.

Of course he doesn't want to give anybody up. Did you ever see what the top dogs in Red China do to traitors?

[KC Burke]

paging an old FR poster

[A CA Guy]

Pincus should not be playing the government over some right to privacy of the press baloney over espionage.

Our security as a nation is at risk, I would put him in jail right away and after two days would start fining him $10,000 a day the first week, then $25,000 the next week collectible over the course of his life.

This is not the time to play games.

[Sacajaweau]

This is nothing compared to what Pincus is going to go through with Libby's attorneys.

[A CA Guy]

Oh, the guy should be straight forward with the testimony since someone's life is on the line.

The thing is, with espionage, they should never be given a pass due to any rights as being a member of the press. That would be misguided on the part of the reporter, judge and others to let them pass on that.
Too much is crucial that needs to be known regarding espionage.

We can get nuked, invaded, another 9-11 or perhaps be hit with boat loads of Yoko Ono 8-track tapes.

[clee1]

...be hit with boat loads of Yoko Ono 8-track tapes.

Oh GOD NO!!!!!! ANYTHING but THAT! I'll talk... I'll TALK!!!!

[oceanview]

and in the meantime, republicans in the senate are rushing to get a federal shield law passed for these reporters. total idiots.

[Dog]

fyi.

[A CA Guy]

Play it backwards and it's Hillary yelling at Bill.