House Dems back fed. shield law; Would protect reporters from revealing sources to govt prosecutors

[Doondoo]

House lawmakers, with the support of top Democratic leaders, are preparing to fast-track long-stalled legislation that would shield reporters in most cases from having to reveal their sources to federal prosecutors.

The move follows the Justice Department's decision this week to withdraw a subpoena for two Chronicle reporters after a defense lawyer pleaded guilty to leaking grand jury transcripts in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative investigation, in which top athletes testified they had used illegal steroids.

Reps. Mike Pence, R-Ind., and Rick Boucher, D-Va., plan to reintroduce their federal media shield legislation next month with the support of House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich. Conyers has pledged to move the bill through his committee quickly and to the House floor.

.......

Pence, who met last month with Chronicle reporters Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada in his Capitol Hill office, said even though the journalists were spared a threatened 18-month prison sentence, their case exposed the lack of protections for journalists and their confidential sources in federal courts.

"While these reporters won't go to jail, in many respects the First Amendment is still behind bars," Pence said in an interview. "This case stands as a stark testament to the need for Congress to adopt a federal media shield statute."


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/17/MNGEAO6HCU1.DTL

[Kagemusha]

1. The Chronicle case sure didn't involve national security.

So I can understand it being seen as an abuse of discretion. (But when the grand jury itself demands evidence, and the courts make their call, jail time is to be expected. A grand jury is not supposed to be the big TV in Times Square.)

[truthisfreedom]

2. This is a direct slap in the face to bushco's constant encroachment on our freedoms.

Good for the Dems!

[rocktivity]

3. I find the moral outrage at leaks hilarious

especially from the GOP, when they're only too happy to plant stories from "sources" who "must remain unnamed because they aren't authorized" to discuss the situation in the national media!

:eyes:
rocknation