[adam_az]

""Tony is not allowed to talk," Zaid said. "He is effectively gagged from talking. He is gagged from talking to Congress.""

Isn't it illegal to prevent someone from testifying before congress if they are summoned?

[michigander]

U.S. Code
TITLE 2
CHAPTER 6

§ 192. Refusal of witness to testify or produce papers

Every person who having been summoned as a witness by the authority of either House of Congress to give testimony or to produce papers upon any matter under inquiry before either House, or any joint committee established by a joint or concurrent resolution of the two Houses of Congress, or any committee of either House of Congress, willfully makes default, or who, having appeared, refuses to answer any question pertinent to the question under inquiry, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 nor less than $100 and imprisonment in a common jail for not less than one month nor more than twelve months.

[Pirate21]

Isn't it illegal to prevent someone from testifying before congress if they are summoned?

Maybe the ACLU can fight for his First Amendment rights. /sarcasm

[expatpat]

National security and classified information trump unclassified Congressional committee meetings.

[strategofr]

"Isn't it illegal to prevent someone from testifying before congress if they are summoned?"

Not if national security is involved (or they pretend it is.)

[kaehurowing]

Agents Mulder and Scully used to get in big trouble when they refused to testify before Congress.

[Squantos]

I suppose, suspect and wonder if the 5th is at issue here as he can talk and sit in prison for the rest of his days for violating his security agreements as what's classified has to be declassified by someone other than him. Just one possible reason.......

[4woodenboats]

Isn't it illegal to prevent someone from testifying before congress if they are summoned?

This article doesn't place Tony Shaeffer in front of Congress, rather, it places him and a handfull of of other whistleblowers ~ Whistleblowers Anonymous, if you will, at a small resort island named CHINCOTEAGUE, Va.

Here is the gist of the story (IMO);

"Most cannot discuss the allegations they are making in detail because the specifics are highly classified. Some even have trouble outlining the alleged violations that ended their own careers. The agencies they work for also refuse to answer questions about the specific cases."

I'm guessing USNews.com needed to fill some white space.