Posted on 05/01/2018 3:29:28 AM PDT by SkyPilot
The CIA can selectively divulge classified information to selected reporters in emails yet withhold that information from other journalists or members of the public when they seek the same information under the Freedom of Information Act, a federal judge in New York has ruled
The decision appeared in the court record on Friday but became more widely disseminated Monday.
The ruling comes amid vigorous national debate over leaks to the media and the use of anonymous sources in covering national security news, including an ongoing FBI investigation into Russian attempts to influence the 2016 presidential election.
Judge Colleen McMahon of the Southern District of New York ruled that the CIA does not have to release parts of five emails senior CIA officials sent to journalists from the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and The Washington Post in 2012. At the time, the CIA was facing pressure over links it may have had to a Pakistani doctor who helped American forces hunt down Osama bin Laden.
The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by Adam Johnson, a freelance reporter, who was represented by a first amendment lawyer in New York City, Daniel Novack.
The Director of Central Intelligence is free to disclose classified information about CIA sources and methods selectively, if he concludes that it is necessary to do so in order to protect those intelligence sources and methods, and no court can second guess his decision, McMahon ruled.
McMahon ruled that such communication is not part of the public domain, and that the CIA was within its rights to discuss protected information in emails to reporters of certain media outlets, just as the media outlets are protected by law when sued to divulge anonymous sources.
(Excerpt) Read more at mcclatchydc.com ...
That’s not the Star of David. The Star is six-sided this is five.
On May 21, 1998, McMahon was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
No. It’s the aliens.
Wow, the CIA is above the law domestically. We are in trouble.
I knew we were in trouble when Panetta stepped in to Deep Swamp the CIA.
So I am guessing the supreme court is getting this one. It seems that Obama weaponized the courts as well as the IRS, DOJ and FBI. My understanding is that the CIA has no rights and that it should be acting with strict restraints by all three branches of government, and even the fourth estate.
can divulge classified information to selected reporters in emails
= = =
IN EMAILS
That’s a leak right there.
The media is part of the Deep State,IMHO.. Woluld only make sense that a dirty robed wearing hippy judge would make this ruling. Its all coming to a boil folks.
The CIA director is authorized independently to leak classified information?
Somehow I doubt that is true. It cannot be independent. That would undermine the very underpinnings of an elected government.
A Bubba appointee....
FR is really turning into another twitter.
A post concerning a threat to our republic turns into a lengthy twitter about a cartoon.
Why is the discussion not about the question: How can information released to journalists not be public information and therefore not available to anyone who asks for it?
This ruling to could be interpreted to mean that even government officials, such as congressmen, could be denied the information simply because the CIA did not wish for them to have it.
Or put simply...when is public information not public?
If the judge had ruled that the source of information could be divulged in some cases but not in others, it would be understandable. Even that position would need to apply to all who asked for it.
But ruling that information is classified to some in the public domain but not to others is off the wall and is no doubt headed to the supreme court.
That’s a pentagram, not the Star of David.
“A court rules it is ok for us intelligence officials to leak classified information? Am I just stupid or confused?”
##################
Neither. You get it. That is exactly what is happening, along with concealing the evidence. The judiciary is weighing in on the side of sedition. But then, they were the first to pervert the Constitution.
Even worse, they leak fake crap and then the FBI launches criminal investigations based on it.
“But where are the Illuminati, the Rosicrucians, the Masons, and the alien from National Enquirer?”
Attending classes on how to WITHHOLD EVIDENCE,ask Trick questions to incriminate innocent subjects of perjury taught by Mueller, his assistants and Rod Rosensteins wife ?
Great post @50 and you are correct.
We have seen some bizarre stuff within our government recently. Look what Comey did as director of FBI - the assumption of authority not granted by law or precedent. How can we survive a country where bureaucrats and agencies can refuse to turn over information to legislators or the President? We also have judges who are making decisions far beyond their authority - a single person can subvert the authority of the President or the will of congress.
This is dangerous and it is not how our system works no matter who is in power. An agency of government, an agency head, nor a single judge, should never be able to subvert the constitutional authority of the legislature (re-write a law as Comey did), the judiciary (interpret the law as Comey did and ignore other laws), or the President (make a decision for the executive branch as Comey did). On top of that, they should not be able to refuse to disclose their work product to congress or their boss.
This is a dangerous direction we have headed where elections will not mean much. The very definition of a “deep state.”
This judge is something else in ruling the CIA can break the law.
LOL! Naming Juan Williams as one of the nations most influential journalists is laughable, he’s no journalist, he’s a dork.
Saw him last night on Ingraham Angle and he was supporting Michelle Wolf and her filthy routine, again I say DORK.
Laura was beside herself and finally cut him off.
hmmm... methinks the protection of Brennan and Clapper is in the wind..
can the POTUS order them released ?
good point I hope not.
it looks like the barrack hussein bin soetoro transformation of amerikka has made lyin legal??
Why would a judge rule that the CIA has First Amendment protection? And it also sounds like the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and The Washington Post are part of the CIA.
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