Why hasn't Novak been arrested?

[screembloodymurder]

Instead, I watch CSPAN quote Novak's latest column this morning. Even if he didn't break the law, he clearly has demonstrated very bad judgement. Does anyone know why the Justice Department hasn't brought charges. This is a matter of national security and we're at war.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Becuase unlike the UK

We do not have a National Secrecy Act.

If anybody will be prosecuted it will beh idiot who leaked it.

But novak, as bad as this is, hasthe right to do this... now we can and should demand that CNN fire him as well as refuse to bye and read his screed.

And sadly on the way to war I found myself agreeing with the man
a couple times... since he was not pro war.

[TAH6988]

2. Because

we don't send people to jail for bad judgement alone. They normally DO have to break the law. "Even if he didn't break the law, he clearly has demonstrated very bad judgement."

[Cha]

3. Ambassador Joe Wilson is on C-Span!

He's doing a great job of making his case and getting a lot of good callers thanking him for his courage.

But this one lady from Alabama said he didn't look very honest..stupid fu=king freeper. And, of course, brought up Clinton..Jeez!

[MarianJack]

5. Why Not?

In Freeper-land everything, back to and including Adam & Eve biting the Apple can be blamed on Bill Clinton and his lil' winkie!

When you have nothing to defend, you look for anything to attack. These morons have NOTHING to defend. As Joe C. said, it shows the sad state of the right wing in this country that they are still fixated on Clinton's crotch.

Dumb ass me, I'm fixated on the peace and prosperity we had while he was in office.

[ClintonTyree]

7. Yeah.............

she was a real winner wasn't she?
If breathing were suddenly to become a voluntary function, she'd be dead within minutes.

[fsbooks]

4. Just remember Freedom of the Press

It is sacred, no matter how or who uses it. Ultimately, it protects us. Once exceptions are made (of which there are some, but fortunately few), we are on the road to tyranny.

[MarianJack]

9. Meet John Doe!

If you've ever seen that great (and much misunderstood) Frank Capra movie, at the beginning, when a Murdoch-like publisher buys the newspaper, you see the phrase "A Free Pree Means a Free People" being jackhammered off of the building to be replaced by "A Streamlined Paper for a Streamlined World".

Almost sounds like "Fair and Balanced".

You are right, no matter how much the a**h*l*s abuse it, it is sacred. Is it their fault that there are few journalists with courage today? Unfortunately, no!

Morons like Novak can't help what they are, just like we can't expect a rat to turn into an eagle because we glue feathers to it's side.

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. You really don't want to start jailing journalists

for reporting what they know, even slimballs like Nofacts.

However, he should be forced into early retirement for his poor judgement. Better journalists than him have lost their jobs in the last few years for much lesser 'crimes', like Phil Donahue for being too liberal.

Besides, we should write Nofacts and thank him for outting the WH on this. He's brought more damage to them, than any liberal reporter could even dream about.

[amber dog democrat]

12. that is not what we were taught

in a media law and ethics class - as jouralism students.
The laws are the laws.

[DoYouEverWonder]

15. It seems that the law

as it applies to Novak and this situation has yet to be decided.

Do you have a link to a clear interpretation of the law has it applies to this case?

Besides Novak is not the focus of this investigation, the WHITE HOUSE is.

[The Lone Liberal]

8. He can be forced to reveal his source.

or stand in contempt of court, in which case he can be jailed. I don’t know why he would want to protect a traitor.

[izzie]

10. Where have you been. Press has rights.

And I want them to keep them even if this guy is a speaker of anything that will bring him money.The more chartter the better.

[amber dog democrat]

11. There are no shield laws

to protect journalists from being legally compelled to reveal sources in the case of criminal wrong doing.

Reporters are often incarcerated for comtempt of court - especially in grand jurys matters.

NOVAK should be compelled to roll on his sources - especially when they acted in such bad faith.

Outing an undercover agent is an act of treason. Period.

Maybe he is cutting a deal as we speak.

[matcom]

13. i don't WANT Nofacts arrested!

instead, i want HIM to be the one that brings down this admin. oh think of the IRONY!

bet he even quits Crossfire! :D

let him go down in the history books as a true LIBERAL hero :bounce:

[Padraig18]

14. He hasn't been charged because...

... quite simply, it is very rare for a prosecutor to file an 'information' or for a grand jury to return an indictment until such time as the prosecuting authority believes it has evidence of guilt 'beyond a reasonable doubt and to a moral certainty'. If and when it does, the information/indictment will follow, and a warrant will issue.

A word of caution to those who believe that the First Amendment is some manner of absolute 'shield' to criminal prosecution in cases such as this: the First Amendment offers a broad but qualified shield. Had Novak published plans for an impending battle, e.g., the first Amendment would offer him NO protection from prosecution.

[DemoVet]

17. But also,

if his source commits a felony by revealing this information, isn't he an accessory for passing it on? Certainly, Nofacts (or his editors, or the lawyers for his news outlets) knew the law well enough to realize what he was doing. I have never before seen an active undercover CIA agent identified in the media before. I may be wrong, but this is unprecedented in the print or electronic media. Nofacts may not ultimately reveal his source(s) but he can still be subpoena'd by a grand jury and compelled to testify, even if he invokes his first amendment rights in the process. Whether he's found in contempt or not, just the subpoena and appearance in court would probably finish him as a syndicated columnist for any respectable publisher or network. And if someone ends up dead as the result of this, it gets even deeper for all involved.

[Padraig18]

18. Arguably

A case can be put forward that Novak has committed "misprison of a felony" ( wilfull failure to disclose material knowledge of a felony to the authorities), even if his story was not itself a crime. This subject is discussed elsewhere on this board. :)

[IggleDoer]

16. Why hasn't CNN and the Chicago Sun Times suspended him.

A "reporter" was about to reveal national secrets and then hides behind protecting his sources who were committing treason. What credibility does he have as a newsman if he cooperates with a treasonous action by the WH?