'Post' Did Not Feel It Had to Return Classified Document

[NVMojo]

Published: March 03, 2006 1:25 PM ET

NEW YORK Although The Washington Post agreed to return to the FBI a classified government document obtained in 2004 by one of its reporters researching federal investigations into potential terrorists, the newspaper actually maintained that it had the right to keep the letter and report on its contents if it chose, E&P has learned.

According to a copy of a Post letter to FBI officials on Dec. 2, 2004, obtained by E&P, the newspaper informed investigators that it was willing to return the document following an FBI request two days earlier. But it also pointed out that "we do not agree that we are under any legal obligation to return the document in question or to refrain from reporting on the contents. However, we have decided to return all three copies of the document in our possession."

The Post letter also asks investigators "to preserve this letter and its enclosures should there arise any need in the future to confirm what was one in our possession and later returned at your request."

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http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002115647

[Elidor]

1. "We're not going to stand on principle, but we want you to know..."

"We could if we wanted to."