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Jeff Sessions May Force Reporters To Reveal Sources Of Leaks
White House Patch ^ | 8/4/2017 | Cody Fenwick

Posted on 08/04/2017 11:59:33 AM PDT by advance_copy

WASHINGTON, DC — As leaks of classified and otherwise sensitive information pour from all corners of the federal government, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Friday that he may crack down on the members of the media who report these stories — despite widespread acceptance of the idea that the First Amendment offers broad protections to the press on this front.

“We respect the important role that the press plays," Sessions said at a morning press conference. "And we'll give them respect, but it is not unlimited."

He did not say specifically what changes he was pursuing, though the department will be reexamining its policy for subpoenaing members of the media. He continued: "They cannot place lives at risk with impunity. We must balance the press’s role with protecting our national security and the lives of those who serve in the intelligence community, the armed forces and all law-abiding Americans."

News agencies will frequently contact the government when they obtain classified information, and they often honor credible requests to hold back certain pieces of information for reasons of national security. For example, when multiple outlets reported that President Trump revealed highly sensitive and classified intel about an Israeli informant with ISIS to the Russian, reporters did not include in their stories the spy's location. Doing so, the government said, could endanger this source of intelligence.

Sessions took no questions at the press conference.

The Department of Justice has increased its investigation of leaks since Trump took office, the attorney general said. He gave a simple warning to those looking to reveal classified information: "Don't do it."

On Thursday, the Washington Post published transcripts of the president's conversations with two world leaders. Even many critics of the administration expressed concerns about this leak and its potential to undermine the diplomatic relationships.

During his time in the White House, President Obama faced criticism for what many saw as an overly aggressive prosecution of leakers.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: agsessions; leaks; liberalmedia; media; msm; sessions; treason; trumpdoj; trumpmedia
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To: sport

Deep State Killary already ‘bought’ Assange off by getting his rape charge DROPPED.


21 posted on 08/04/2017 12:25:26 PM PDT by CivilWarBrewing (Feminism DESTROYED females)
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To: advance_copy

News sources are saying four people have been charged with leaking, but no names have been released by the DOJ yet.


22 posted on 08/04/2017 12:26:17 PM PDT by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: advance_copy

That’s it? That’s the big announcement on leaking he was going to make on Friday? Now a grand jury on the Trumpsha hoax but still no grand juries impaneled by the Justice department.


23 posted on 08/04/2017 12:29:33 PM PDT by ichabod1 (Smoke does not mean fire when someone threw a smoke grenade.)
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To: Rusty0604
He doesn't have to announce his every move - he needs to start putting the screws to some of the swamp creatures in DC. This presser amounted to another strongly-worded letter, which is probably one of the few things the GOP is good at. Poor Trump is saddled with a bunch of wimps, unfortunately, and Sessions is one of them.
24 posted on 08/04/2017 12:29:50 PM PDT by Major Matt Mason (The U.S. Senate - where American freedom goes to die.)
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To: Hang'emAll

The Brown Dukie.


25 posted on 08/04/2017 12:31:05 PM PDT by ichabod1 (Smoke does not mean fire when someone threw a smoke grenade.)
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To: alternatives?
Wikileaks and Snowden are honest.

Good answer! LOL.

26 posted on 08/04/2017 12:36:48 PM PDT by pgkdan (The Silent Majority Stands With TRUMP!)
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To: Nifster

They can’t claim First amendment or shield Law or anything else when the information they publish is classified. They should already be in prison. Sessions is still playing games. He did make a strong statement that the DOJ “MAY” look into these actions. Means nothing.


27 posted on 08/04/2017 12:38:11 PM PDT by DrDude (Clinton/Awan/Huma/Obama all are tied together in Treason)
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To: DrDude

They can claim whatever they want. Remember The Ellsworth Papers?

Doesn’t guarantee it will fly but they can make the claim


28 posted on 08/04/2017 12:50:52 PM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: advance_copy

You criminals better watch out!

Sessions MAY lower the boom any day now.


29 posted on 08/04/2017 12:51:48 PM PDT by Leep (Less talk more ACTiON!)
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To: advance_copy

The fifth offers protection against self-incrimination, but when there is no chance they will face criminal penalties, they cannot use the fifth. I’m sure that’s what he is getting at. The press has their well rehearsed protection of sources routine, but there is, in reality, no federal press “shield” law, nor should there ever be one. If there was a press shield law, leaking would be refined as an art form - the media would just become a massive leak conduit.


30 posted on 08/04/2017 12:53:08 PM PDT by Wally_Kalbacken
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To: Sacajaweau

If this is true, why would Sessions even telegraph what the DoJ is up to?

It is standard operating procedure for the liar Marxist types amongst us, to regularly use our naivety to simply destroy and demolish all things just and good.

This is so stupid...

Unless of course the goal was to give them a head start to burry and or get their storied narratives and defense all lined up.


31 posted on 08/04/2017 12:56:06 PM PDT by patriotfury (May the fleas of a thousand camels occupy mo' ham mads tent!)
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To: Mr. K

“Throw them in jail for being COMPLICIT in the crime of revealing classified information.”

A one-hundred year sentence for each violation should be about right.


32 posted on 08/04/2017 1:02:33 PM PDT by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: advance_copy

When did the press start claiming they have the First Amendment right to protect their sources even when the information is criminal by its nature?


33 posted on 08/04/2017 1:05:39 PM PDT by jonrick46 (The Left has a mental illness: A totalitarian psyche.)
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To: Nifster
That’s fine. The press will claim first amendment priveledge. The court will find contempt. They will spend time in jail and become the cause Celebrex....to wit Judith Miller

Goal #1 is to stop the bleeding. That should do it. Then you look back. DJT may be holding an axe over many members of the press.

34 posted on 08/04/2017 1:05:46 PM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: Sacajaweau

The 1st amendment does not give one immunity from treasonous acts committed in PRINT.


35 posted on 08/04/2017 1:09:47 PM PDT by Lumper20
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To: Leep

That made me laugh.


36 posted on 08/04/2017 1:12:46 PM PDT by Eddie01
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To: Rusty0604

I will believe he’s serious when he announces firings and arrests.


37 posted on 08/04/2017 1:13:32 PM PDT by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
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To: advance_copy

Unauthorized possession of classified material is a crime no matter who is doing it.

L


38 posted on 08/04/2017 1:15:46 PM PDT by Lurker (President Trump isn't our last chance. President Trump is THEIR last chance.)
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To: frnewsjunkie

Just like saying — maybe yes, maybe no. That sure isn’t leadership talking. Please Donald, wake up fast!


39 posted on 08/04/2017 1:19:31 PM PDT by happytrumper
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To: advance_copy

Will he start waterboarding?


40 posted on 08/04/2017 1:27:35 PM PDT by smileyface (Things looking up in RED PA! I love President Trump!)
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