Posted on 05/21/2006 8:13:48 AM PDT by frankjr
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Sunday he believes journalists can be prosecuted for publishing classified information, citing an obligation to national security.
The nation's top law enforcer also said the government will not hesitate to track telephone calls made by reporters as part of a criminal leak investigation, but officials would not do so routinely and randomly.
"There are some statutes on the book which, if you read the language carefully, would seem to indicate that that is a possibility," Gonzales said, referring to prosecutions. "We have an obligation to enforce those laws. We have an obligation to ensure that our national security is protected."
...
But he added that the First Amendment right of a free press should not be absolute when it comes to national security. If the government's probe into the NSA leak turns up criminal activity, prosecutors have an "obligation to enforce the law."
"It can't be the case that that right trumps over the right that Americans would like to see, the ability of the federal government to go after criminal activity," Gonzales told ABC's "This Week."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
: )
Hmmmmm...I just wrote that these national security leaks would continue until someone stepped up to the plate to make it painful to do so, and now we have this. Go get 'em, Alberto.
If they break the law they should be prosecuted to the full extent of it. These people believe they are gods.
Rather even tried to throw a presidential election.
It's time reality caught up with them.
So-called "journalists" have been undermining the security of this country since, at least, VietNam and getting a pass based on the "public's right to know". I suspect the real reason is their own pathetic careers and a hatred for anything NOT left-wing.
If the government wants to start going after some of these, you will hear no complaint from me. I trust US to know when they are going too far.
Contrary to popular belief, I don't think the First Amendment was written to give "reporters" and "journalists" a Get Out of Jail Free card when they break the law. When these morons release classified information, they should be locked up in prison like any other person who does it. Their 'RAT masters might be above the law but they are not.
There are some Lampposts in DC and NY that can use some adorning.
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
Their right to free speech stops with my right to stay alive.
I wonder if out and out lying is somewhere in there.
Good news ping!
-Their right to free speech stops with my right to stay alive.-
Well said!
As it should be -- no one is above the law, unless of course, you are in the White House or the Congress...
If he really believes it, Alberto needs to get off his fat butt and do it already. A life sentence for one of their collegues would make these a$$ clowns think twice before damaging National Security. Unfortunately, I don't think this Administration has the RESOLVE to enforce the law--on a whole range of issues.
Arrest Mary McCarthy and Dana Priest. TODAY.
Ooooo...I can hear the screams now!
Police State!
Protection of sources!
1st amendment right!
Let the squirming commence ;)
The best news I've read in a month of Sundays!
And why in the hell is Fitzzzzzzzz still on the job?
Reporters? A lot of time one can't distinguish between reporting and their own agenda or opinions. And always slightly slanted ;)
Glad to hear Gonzales giving them a warning.
For those worried about the first amendment, remember that concerns about policy can be expresed at the ballot box, secret info. should not be used criminally to thwart policy. The problem is the DEMS can't win at the ballot box so this in fact is a coupe attempt via MSM Slime press.
This policy announcement is cause for great celebration.
My God, we will have to lock up old dan rather and all the other peeons of the MSM. What a glorius day that will be.
It's about time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If so-called"Reporters"(journalists)had acted this way during WWII,FDR would have had them shot!!!
Then ammend the Constitution so that it no longer says "Congress shall make no law..."
Invasion of France Imminent
Associated Press
BYLINE: Jenny Spillbeans
LONDON -- Sources within the U.S. Army have confirmed imminent plans by the Allied forces for a violent invasion of the peaceful French countryside in the coming week. It has also been learned that thousands of body bags have been prepared and shipped to Great Britain in anticipation of vast numbers of U.S. casualties likely to result from reckless plan.
While a an Allied invasion has been seen as inevitable for over a year now, the timing and location have come as a surprise to military watchers on both sides of the Atlantic. It can now be revealed that instead of the farther north landing along the French coast that military experts agree would make the most sense and result in fewer casualties, General Eisenhower is prepared to unleash the assault by thousands of ship along the Normandy Coastline. Much of the planning centers around the lunar phases affecting the tides. Experts contacted by the AP suggest that June 4th through 7th would be the most likely target dates based on published tide schedules.
Authorities in Germany's capital Berlin were unavailable for comment. Berlin is presently the militarily stronger partner in the alliance between France and it's neighbor. France's duly elected leaders in the capitol city of Vichy expressed outrage at this possible escalation of ongoing trans-Atlantic aggression that has besieged sovereign Europe since 1941.
A military attache in Berlin who answered a phone indicated that military commanders were busy with a massive troop redeployment and would not be available for comment for several weeks.
And so others' right to property stops with your right to stay alive? You assert the right to steal food that doesn't belong to you, and tell the judge your need for that food to avoid starving to death trumps the property rights of your victim?
To hold that your needs trump the rights of others is the foundational premise of socialism.
That part about the DOJ having to enforce the laws because they're in the United States Code; I wonder if his reading has yet reached the sections concerning apprehending and prosecuting persons who cross our brders illegally? It must not have because those seem to be ignored.
Or they would have impeached him for violating their right to publish our national secrets!
I believe it was written so Journalists could not be thrown in jail simply for challenging the government. It was not designed to allow people to break the law in the name of "freedom of the press."
Shalom.
fyi
Wow, drawing our inferences a little too broadly perhaps?
The MSM is going defecate bricks over this one. And they thought John Ashcroft was bad...
If President Lincoln could arrest and jail reporters, I imagine President Bush can too! Just DO IT!
I would think that the issue is "national security" rather than protecting Bubba's personal secrets. Linda Tripp did not reveal state secrets.
In fact, her rights were violated by revelation of her personnel records at the hands of her boss, a Clinton appointee.
It sets an interesting precedent for President Hillary Clinton's eventual order to shut down the Washington Times and Fox News.
Bump for a clear thinker!
This wasn't one on The President's campaign promises.
Hang em high!
Like John McCain says, the First Amendment isn't sacrosanct.
Makes 100 percent sense to me.
BTTT
And that POS got smacked down properly posthumously by SCOTUS for doing so as well. I truly wish those that hold that worthless individual in such high regards would look at his policies to see exactly what his actions did to destroy the Republic in the name of 'saving it'
Contrary to 'conservative' thought, you cannot lock up any you disagree with or falsely accuse of 'treason'
So get on with it.
Why yes, they DID do it posthumously. Otherwise he would have jailed THEM! That being said, I do not favor arresting and jailing people because of honest intellectual disagreements. I draw the line at treason, and if there reporters who are endangering troops and the security of this nation, arrest them and execute them.
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