Journalist Cited for Contempt in Leaks Probe

[acmavm]

Reporter Refused To Discuss Sources

By Carol D. Leonnig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 8, 2004; Page A02

<snip>

A federal judge found New York Times reporter Judith Miller in contempt of court yesterday and ordered her jailed for as long as 18 months for refusing to answer questions before a grand jury investigating the leak of a covert CIA operative's identity to the news media.

Miller told U.S. District Chief Judge Thomas F. Hogan at a hearing yesterday that she would not answer questions from special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald about her conversations with confidential sources. Hogan said Miller had no special right as a reporter to defy a subpoena in a criminal investigation, but agreed she could remain free on bond while the Times appealed his decision.

<snip>

Hogan said he was satisfied that Fitzgerald had exhausted other avenues of determining important information and that questioning journalists was a last resort rather than a "fishing expedition." He said journalists' promise to protect their sources is outweighed by the government's duty to investigate a serious crime. In a 1972 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment does not protect reporters called before a criminal grand jury.

-MORE-

[freetobegay]

1. Hey I know a prison in Iraq she would be perfect in!

[mrdmk]

2. Please provide a link! n/t

:)

[acmavm]

3. Sorry

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14777-2004Oct7.html

[George_S]

4. Why don't they just ask Novak?

Same thing, isn't it?

[TahitiNut]

5. Maybe they view him as an accessory and don't want to plea bargain?

:shrug: