Judge holds reporter in contempt in anthrax case

[Echo In Light]

Judge holds reporter in contempt in anthrax case

WASHINGTON — A federal judge held a former USA TODAY reporter in contempt of court on Tuesday for failing to identify sources who named former Army scientist Steven Hatfill as a possible suspect in the 2001 anthrax attacks that killed five people.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton said he would begin fining Toni Locy $500 per day, escalating to $5,000 per day, until she identifies the sources.

Hatfill's lawyers asked that Locy — and not her former employer or others — be required to pay the fines.

The judge said he would consider postponing the penalty, however, to allow Locy and her lawyers to appeal the contempt ruling. Walton didn't immediately decide whether Locy would be personally responsible for payment of the fines, if imposed.

At the same time, Walton delayed a decision on whether to hold former CBS reporter James Stewart in contempt for not disclosing sources for his reporting on the matter.

Hatfill, who was publicly identified in 2002 by then-attorney general John Ashcroft as a "person of interest" in the attacks, has never been charged. His lawyers have argued that news reports linking him to the federal investigation irreparably damaged his reputation.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-02-19-reporter-anthrax_N.htm

[chelsea0011]

1. "Straight Talk Express" McCain take note. This is a real smear.

[Echo In Light]

2. Important case given that we're told repeatedly that "no attacks since 9/11"

[flashl]

3. Steven Hatfill has suffered a 100 fold the unrelenting scurtiny of ...

Richard Jewell and Jewell truly suffered.