Journalist Cited for Contempt in Leaks Probe

[Jon8503]

Reporter Refused To Discuss Sources

By Carol D. Leonnig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 8, 2004; Page A02

A federal judge found New York Times reporter Judith Miller in contempt of court yesterday and ordered her jailed for as long as 18 months for refusing to answer questions before a grand jury investigating the leak of a covert CIA operative's identity to the news media.

Miller told U.S. District Chief Judge Thomas F. Hogan at a hearing yesterday that she would not answer questions from special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald about her conversations with confidential sources. Hogan said Miller had no special right as a reporter to defy a subpoena in a criminal investigation, but agreed she could remain free on bond while the Times appealed his decision.

In an impromptu news conference after the hearing, Miller said Hogan's ruling -- and several other similar decisions in his court in recent months -- will weaken reporters' ability to obtain crucial information for the public about their government.

"It's really frightening when journalists can be put in jail for doing their job effectively," Miller said. "This is about all journalists and about all government officials who provide information on the promise of confidentiality. Without that, they won't come forward, and the public won't be informed."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14777-2004Oct7.html

[Downtown Hound]

1. "The public won't be informed???"

Miller actually has the gall to say this after her Pentagon-inspired WMD reporting? I'm actually sympathetic to journalists who try and protect their sources, but Miller belongs in jail, period. So I'm glad it's happening, even if I don't agree with the reasons.

[lightbulb]

2. Ummm - the fight against real WMD was compromised

when Plame's career was destroyed. Someone high-up leaked information that put us at increased risk of terrorist attacks. Is that not grounds for a bloody exception to the confidentiality rule!?!? Glad to hear she's getting locked up.

[oasis]

3. Journalist? Judith Miller is a White House stenographer.

:-(

[bullimiami]

4. put her in the glass mcdougal box

until she talks.