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Spy-case reporters must reveal sources
No, not "that" spy case. EFL:A federal judge has ordered five reporters to reveal sources for stories that portrayed Wen Ho Lee, a former nuclear weapons scientist, as a chief suspect in a Chinese espionage investigation. U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson ordered the reporters to answer questions about their sources and to provide Leeâs attorneys with notes and other documents from their reporting. "It does not detract from the importance of the First Amendment principle at stake to conclude, in the instant case at least," that making possible evidence of government leaks available for trial outweighs the interest of keeping sources confidential, Jackson wrote. Gee, I wonder if this could apply to any other spy case involving reporters? Lee is suing the Energy Department and Justice Department, alleging government officials provided private information about him to reporters and suggested he was a suspect in an investigation into the possible theft of nuclear secrets from Los Alamos National Laboratory. SEE: Atlanta Olympics Bombing, Anthrax Mailings, Joseph Wilsonâs wife, etc.. The journalists ordered to give depositions under Jacksonâs order are James Risen and Jeff Gerth of the New York Times, Robert Drogin of the Los Angeles Times, H. Josef Hebert of the AP and Pierre Thomas, formerly of CNN. Former Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, now governor of New Mexico, has said in a deposition that he did not recall whether he talked to the reporters. Other Energy and Justice Department officials also said they did not recall such discussions or did not provide the reporters with the information. Saying "I canât recall" means you canât be procecuted for lying on a deposition. Itâs become the statement of choice when you get caught doing something you shouldnât have. Posted by: Steve 2003-10-15 |
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