By JOSH GERSTEIN Politico WASHINGTON — A federal jury’s decision Monday to convict a former CIA officer for leaking top-secret information to a New York Times reporter was a big win for prosecutors — and for Attorney General Eric Holder’s new approach to handling sensitive cases involving journalists. Holder decided to spare the reporter in…
By Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com An FBI agent testified Wednesday that there is no direct evidence that an ex-CIA officer leaked classified information to a New York Times reporter, the Associated Press reports. But the agent said CIA man Jeffrey Sterling was often in contact with journalist James Risen as prosecutors finished up their case based…
By JOSH GERSTEIN Politico WASHINGTON — The Obama administration’s plan to defuse a First Amendment showdown with a New York Times reporter over his confidential sources was nearly derailed at a court hearing Monday when the journalist rebuffed a series of questions concerning his reporting. But he eventually agreed to answer some of the queries,…
By Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com A federal judge has given the Justice Department until Tuesday to decide whether to subpoena New York Times reporter James Risen to testify against a CIA operative who allegedly leaked classified information to the journalist, the Huffington Post reports. U.S. District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema issued the order Tuesday. Former CIA…
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com More than a dozen Pulitzer Prize winners urged the Justice Department on Monday to stop trying to force New York Times reporter and author James Risen to identify a confidential source, the US News reports. Risen has said he’d go to jail before testifying at the trial of former CIA employee Jeffrey…
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com A New York Times reporter may face jail time if he refuses to testify about who leaked information to him for a book he wrote on the botched CIA operation in Iran. The New York Times reports that James Risen, author of “State of War,” has steadfastly refused to testify, but he has…
By Trevor Timm Freedom of the Press Foundation The US State Department announced the launch of its third annual “Free the Press” campaign today, which will purportedly highlight “journalists or media outlets that are censored, attacked, threatened, or otherwise oppressed because of their reporting.” A noble mission for sure. But maybe they should kick off the campaign…
By The New York Times Editorial Board Last July, Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. spoke eloquently of “the importance of the constitutionally protected news gathering process,” the essential role of a free press when it comes to “government accountability and an open society,” and the need to better protect journalists from federal leak investigations. At…
