As seen in the Washington
Post:
Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales raised the possibility yesterday that New York Times journalists could be
prosecuted for publishing classified information based on the outcome of the criminal investigation underway into leaks to the Times
of data about the National Security Agency’s surveillance of terrorist-related calls between the United States and abroad.[...]Yesterday, Gonzales said, “I understand very much the role that the press plays in our society, the protection under the First
Amendment we want to promote and respect . . . but it can’t be the case that that right trumps over the right that Americans would
like to see, the ability of the federal government to go after criminal activity.”
That last Gonzales quote, on the balance between the press’ rights and protecting the tools the government can use to protect its
citizens makes sense. However, what about the interest citizens have (or should have) in seeking protection from their government
seeking to abuse its power or its leaders misrepresenting themselves to citizens?