Despite openness pledge, President Obama pursues leakers

[Freddie Stubbs]

The Obama administration, which famously pledged to be the most transparent in American history, is pursuing an unexpectedly aggressive legal offensive against federal workers who leak secret information to expose wrongdoing, highlight national security threats or pursue a personal agenda.

In just over two years since President Barack Obama took office, prosecutors have filed criminal charges in five separate cases involving unauthorized distribution of classified national security information to the media. And the government is now mulling what would be the most high-profile case of them all - prosecuting WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

That’s a sharp break from recent history, when the U.S. government brought such cases on three occasions in roughly 40 years.

The government insists it’s only pursuing individuals who act with reckless disregard for national security, and that it has an obligation to protect the nation’s most sensitive secrets from being revealed. Anyone seeking to expose malfeasance has ample opportunity to do so through proper channels, government lawyers say.

more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/50761.html

[alc]

1. openness isn't about leakers

In a truly open government, there would be no need or possibility of leaks. Openness is about day-to-day operations and then FOIA requests if needed. I'm disappointed in the administration for those.

The article lists 3 types of leaks: (1) leak secret information to expose wrongdoing, (2) highlight national security threats or (3) pursue a personal agenda.

The first type are heroes. The second two should be pursued and prosecuted, even if I'm happy that the leak occurred.

[BlueIris]

2. Gee, could he be...worried about something?

You know, something getting out?

Prosecutions aren't going to stop it, Sir.