Posted on 10/02/2006 9:34:37 AM PDT by tomnbeverly
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Justice Department has opened an investigation into leaks to the media about the National Security Agency's classified domestic surveillance program.
The program authorizes the NSA to eavesdrop on Americans without first seeking permission from a court for a search warrant. It has caused a political uproar with both Democrats and Republicans questioning whether President Bush went beyond his powers under the U.S. Constitution in authorizing it.
The New York Times was the first to report the story on December 16th and then officials confirmed its existence to CNN and other organizations.
"The Justice Department has opened an investigation of the unauthorized disclosure of classified information related to the NSA," a Justice Department official told CNN. (Watch what the investigators will look for -- 2:02)
The leak investigation is expected to be handled, as is standard, by Justice Department prosecutors and FBI agents. Officials would not say when the investigation began.
The New York Times declined to comment on the leak investigation.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Hang em high
The program authorizes the NSA to eavesdrop on Americans without first seeking permission from a court for a search warrant
About freaking time.
"The program authorizes the NSA to eavesdrop on Americans without first seeking permission from a court"
That's right CNN.
Just tell 'half' the story.
Make sure you don't tell anyone WHY those 'americans' are being tapped.
This article is from DEC 05. Whats the result of the investigation... should be out NOW.
I know.. My point is where is the Justice Dept on this... There has to be some rumors on the hill on who is the leaker/s. Are the Dems sweatin it???
sorry 'bout that. feverish and a little slow today.
Darn good question.
Gonzales has been somewhat of a ....disappointment.
sorry 'bout that. feverish and a little slow today.
Darn good question.
Gonzales has been somewhat of a ....disappointment.
It's about time!
Flash Back to:
Pulitzers for Putz & Putz
The New York Times' reporters James Risen and Eric Lichtblau won the Pulitzer Prize today [two weeks ago] for their treasonous contribution to the undermining of the highly classified National Security Agency surveillance program of al Qaeda-related terrorists.
Rissen/Lichtblau clearly violated relevant provisions of the Espionage Act -- a particularly serious crime insofar as it lends assistance to the enemy in a time of war.
This leaves us asking.........
Did the New York Times break the law with its wire-tapping story?
The Attorneys for the NYT should be concerned with:
Quote:
Section 793 of the federal espionage law prohibits authorized persons possessing "information relating to the national defense which information the possessor has reason to believe could be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of any foreign nation . . . "
....from disclosing it to persons not entitled to it.
Section 798 of the espionage law prohibits the disclosure of classified communications intelligence activities to unauthorized persons "in any manner prejudicial to the safety or interest of the United States or for the benefit of any foreign government to the detriment of the United States . . . "
The violation of these statutes is a felony.
Because their disclosures to the Times may fall within these statues, the "current and former government officials" referred to in the Risen/Lichtblau story sought the promise of confidentiality from the Times to protect their identity.
See:
Did the New York Times break the law with its wire-tapping story?
by Scott Johnson
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/006/631lksqg.asp
Ping
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.