Posted on 08/31/2006 1:55:22 PM PDT by Mr. Brightside
Hoekstra predicts jailing of reporters
Thursday, August 31, 2006
By Myron Kukla
The Grand Rapids Press
HOLLAND -- New York Times reporters who broke the story of a three-year program of warrantless wiretapping of U.S. citizens will be in jail by yearend if they don't reveal their government sources, U.S. Rep. Peter Hoekstra predicted Wednesday.
The revelation last December has been a devastating blow to intelligence gathering, said Hoekstra, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
"If people understood the threat out there (from terrorist organizations), Americans would be absolutely furious that the tools we have to track the terrorists have been lost," said Hoekstra, R-Holland, in an address to the Holland A.M. Rotary Club.
"The Justice Department is going after those who violated their oath of office by giving classified information to reporters. Those reporters will be sitting in jail by the end of the year until they reveal their sources."
Times reporters James Risen and Eric Lichtblau in a Dec. 16, 2005, story reported President Bush secretly authorized the National Security Agency in 2002 to eavesdrop on phone and e-mail communications of thousands of Americans, seeking information about terrorist planning.
The story said nearly one dozen current and former government officials provided details, but did not identify them.
Hoekstra said the Justice Department investigation likely will lead to a grand jury questioning individuals and reporters under oath.
Since the story broke, terrorists have used more pre-paid cell phones and tossed them away, making it hard to track them, Hoekstra said.
A federal judge in Detroit has described the warrantless eavesdropping as an attack on the Constitution and U.S. Bill of Rights.
U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor this month ruled President Bush exceeded his authority, citing it as a violation of the First and Fourth amendments.
"I couldn't disagree with the ruling more. It could disarm America in a time of war," Hoekstra said, noting the Justice Department is appealing the ruling and has negotiated a deal to continue the program while the appeal is pending.
"This will likely go all the way to the Supreme Court," he said.
Jail? Thats it? No hanging in time square?
They should go to jail even if they do reveal their sources. They gave "aid and comfort" to our enemy.
Will not happen if the 'Rats take control of the House and/or Senate in November.
Revealting classified information is a felony.
They should be tried, convicted and put in jail -- throw away the key for doing that and for committing treason by aiding our enemies.
After a few dozen of them will be rotting in jail, that will slow down the rest.
Not to mention -- isn't the death penalty still applicable for treason?
Revealing some of this info may well cost thousands of innocent American lives, because the terrorists will change their tactics and we may not be able to prevent the next attack, as a result.
An excellent point. After the NYT published the details of the program, there were more incidents of the usual suspects being arrested iin the possession of hundreds of cell phones.
What do you call 100 reporters behind bars?
A good start.
All the way to the Supreme Court. Swell. That's ten years from now.
I thought that was 100 lawyers at the bottom of a lake..
Too bad we did away with public stocks.
I agree with you. The NYT ought to be put out of business over this.
Let me ask an honest question, though: Do you think that if the traitor judge's opinion is upheld, the reporters will be defended as "whistle-blowers"?
What is needed is some action before the November elections. Action other than lip service.
The reporters should be punished, but the leakers are the ones that have the clearances and are trained to know better. I want them exposed and the book thrown at them.
Get Pinch!
I doubt anyone has the guts to prosecute them.
They won't control the Justice Department.
I'll pay money to see this.
One can hope.
***"If people understood the threat out there (from terrorist organizations), Americans would be absolutely furious that the tools we have to track the terrorists have been lost," ***
I got news for you Hoss, people out there Do Know and we are furious. We want to know why this scum isnt in prison now, along with John Kerry , Nancy Pelosi and Ted Kennedy and the rest of the terrorist enablers.
If this were the civil war and Lincoln were president these Congresscritters would be sitting in a federal prison in Fredericksburg.
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