As seen in the Washington Post:
Senior Republican and Democratic members of the Senate
Judiciary Committee sharply criticized a Justice Department official
yesterday for refusing to say whether the Bush administration has ever
considered prosecuting journalists for publishing leaked national security
information.[...]The purpose of the hearing, Specter said in opening the session, was to
examine Justice Department efforts to control leaks, explore suggestions
that newspapers and their reporters can be prosecuted under the 1917
Espionage Act and take comment on legislation that would protect reporters
through a shield law. The law would provide an exception if national
security matters were involved.[...]Specter then asked, without specifying a particular case, whether the
department, under Gonzales or former attorney general John D. Ashcroft, ever
considered prosecuting a newspaper or reporter for publishing leaked
classified information.“I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to give an indication one
way or another, and I hope people don’t read anything into my answer one way
or another,” Friedrich said. But after a short lecture from Specter, he
added that it was his “understanding” that there were historical examples of
officials considering whether to prosecute journalists.“I’m not interested in history this morning,” Specter responded. “I’m
interested in current events.”
It’s a shame that politicians and bureaucrats seem to have a problem with
being able to answer simple “yes” or “no” questions.
It’s also a shame that there apparently can’t be some very simple rules
around the leaking mess, namely: you don’t publish information that will get
people killed; you don’t leak classified information; you don’t classify
information that doesn’t need to be classified; and you protect those who
leak to illuminate and correct illegal behavior.