Some See Indictment as 'a Devastating Day for Journalism'

Los Angeles Times ^ | October 29, 2005 | James Rainey and Matea Gold, Times Staff Writers

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Accustomed to telling the story rather than being at the center of it, three journalists faced the extraordinary prospect Friday of holding key information that could send a top White House operative to prison. A variety of media watchers said they found that prospect chilling.

In what promises to be an uncommonly media-centric prosecution, Special Prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald charged vice presidential Chief of Staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby largely based on the testimony of journalists: NBC's Tim Russert, Time magazine White House correspondent Matthew Cooper and New York Times reporter Judith Miller.

They contradicted Libby under oath, exposing him to charges of obstructing justice, making false statements and perjury.

And Libby, who had been Vice President Dick Cheney's top aide until he resigned Friday, sought to use the media in his alibi — telling investigators he had not leaked the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame but was at the end of a long chain of journalists who passed on a rumor.

On at least three occasions during his news conference Friday, Fitzgerald cautioned journalists and the public not to fear that the case would open the floodgates to prosecutors demanding testimony from journalists about their confidential sources.

"I do not think that reporters should be subpoenaed anything close to routinely," said the prosecutor. "It should be an extraordinary case. But … what is different here is the transaction here is between a person and a reporter; they're the eyewitness to the crime."

Some media analysts said they appreciated Fitzgerald's assurances and acknowledgment of the importance of reporters protecting confidential sources. But they also worried that the prosecutor's actions could set an unfortunate precedent.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

In the last year alone, more than 30 subpoenas have been issued in federal courts ordering reporters to testify, said Lucy Dalglish, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

[mewzilla]

For it has been said so truthfully that it is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

Sen. Zell Miller

I just thought this bore repeating.

[Publius6961]

They contradicted Libby under oath, exposing him to charges of obstructing justice, making false statements and perjury.

This is only one explanation, and not necessarily the likeliest.
The story has not played out, and I hope and pray that if it's shown to be the case, reporters and "correspondents" are subject to the same "30 years" in prison that the accused is threatened with. And that it actually happens.

The integrity of the "news" mass media of late is not the cleanest and most polished, to put it gently.
I personally would not accept the word of any reporter over that of an ordinary citizen!

[mewzilla]

I'd take the word of a used car dealer over most presstitutes'.

[Tulsa Brian]

uncommonly media-centric prosecution

That's rich coming from these @$$#oles. This whole thing is DNC/Media-driven. They should just hang a sign on The DNC headquarters that says "Gone Fishing". God, I hate the media in this country...

[lafroste]

That was exactly my thought. Given the press' regrettable inability to discern truth of separate fact from nonsense, were I on Scooter's jury and it was his word against 50 journalists, he'd walk free.

[cynicom]

Indictments are a sure indication that some republican politicians and their minions are not overly smart, chatting off the record with MSM. Dumb they are and if Libby lied, put him in jail.

[i_dont_chat]

On at least three occasions during his news conference Friday, Fitzgerald cautioned journalists and the public not to fear that the case would open the floodgates to prosecutors demanding testimony from journalists about their confidential sources.

Well, so much for THAT.

This is exactly what is going to happen in the trial to determine Libby’s guilt or innocence.

The thrust of the trial will be to settle the contradictions between Libby’s testimony and the testimony of two or three reporters about what he told them, when he told them, and what words he used.

[syriacus]

[the reporters are] the eyewitness [sic] to the crime."

The reporters are the eyewitnesses to the alleged crime.

[Bommer]

The BIG story is why Judith Miller would go to jail for a few months to protect a source in the Bush White House; a White House that the NYT loathes and seeks to destroy at every opportunity! The NYT supported Miller in her jail cell, until they found out the source she was protecting was in the White House, then they turn on her? This whole thing stinks like hell!

[jude24]

Given the press' regrettable inability to discern truth of separate fact from nonsense, were I on Scooter's jury and it was his word against 50 journalists, he'd walk free.

And that's why you will never sit on that jury. Last thing we need are more partisan, prejudiced jurors.

[Revolutionary]

They don't realize they have just opened up a can of worms. Libby's team now has the right of discovery. The reporters are in for it and they should really dig into the entire left wing media rats nest and its links with the DNC. Russert is a serial lier and needs to be taken down. I think he should be made to list all of his false statements on the air and to other media types. It is a pattern.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Hadn't thought of this. Good points and i agree that the MSM needs to be thrashed!

[ironman]

"The reporters are the eyewitnesses to the alleged crime."

Further they are not eyewitnesses to the crimes Libby is charged with.

[TheGeezer]

Fitzgerald also sounded like mediacrat talking points. Even though he denied there was any violation of the law protecting the identities of CIA operatives, or of the 1917 Securities Act (is the name right?), he repeated a number of times that that national security is serious matter, as if he were trying to couple alleged lying (as opposed to memory lapses) with Overt CIA employee Plame.

The indictments, of course, have really nothing to do with national security.

[woofer]

Indictments are a sure indication that some republican politicians and their minions are not overly smart,

True, Cy.

Look at how much the clintoon and his hillbilly gang of traitors got away with.

[goresalooza]

I so agree...there is far more to this story than we know. I don't think we will ever know the extent of it...because the lame prosecutor will never go after Wilson, who created the whole mess.

[Right_in_Virginia]

...largely based on the testimony of journalists: NBC's Tim Russert, Time magazine White House correspondent Matthew Cooper and New York Times reporter Judith Miller.

Should they recuse themselves from further reporting or commenting on this story?

[Mo1]

Should they recuse themselves from further reporting or commenting on this story?

They will just have other reporters write their version of the story ... kind of like what Michael Isikoff did

[scotiamor]

"were I on Scooter's jury":

Therein lies the problem - the jury will be picked from that sterling population of Washington DC, which is about 99.9% democrat. Libby doesn't have an iceberg's chance in hell (but better chance in global warming) of getting a fair trial. Look at assassin John Hinkley's trial - the Washington DC jury voted to acquit, so proud were they of his attempt to kill a Republican. This same Jury pool votes for drug-taking politicians like Marion Berry. God save Libby - the democrats of DC won't.