[CurlyDave]

Why is the White House pushing the line that it is illegal for MSNBC to broadcast/publish the tax returns? The law would have been violated if the tax returns originated from the IRS. And assuming a violation of the law (that the returns did indeed originate from the IRS), MSNBC still isn’t doing anything wrong by broadcasting/publishing them. MSNBC is fully protected by the 1st Amendment. In that scenario, only the leaker violated the law.

That is what she claimed on her show. I am less than 100% certain.

Counterexample: If someone left kiddie porn in her mailbox would she be 100% protected by 1A to publish it?

I am not a lawyer, but there is a dividing line somewhere between what is protected by 1A and what is not. Kiddie porn is on one side of the line. Exactly which side of the line illegally obtained tax returns fall on is not as clear cut as you suggest.

[UCANSEE2]

You can SAY or even DO anything you want. However, the 1st Amendment does not protect you from being prosecuted, jailed, or even killed for it.