There is a precedent to arrest Robert Novak.

[La_Serpiente]

Dear Everyone,

I am a firm believe in freedom of the press and don't believe he should be arrested. However, there has been a precedent to arrest Robert Novak if he doesn't divulge his notes.

http://www.indexonline.org/indexindex/20020108_unitedstates.shtml

Just to let you know.

Sinceramente,
La_Serpiente

[German-Lefty]

1. Interesting problem.

"The press cannot be free unless journalists are able to protect the confidentiality of their sources."

So do they have a right not to testfy? This is an issue in International War Crimes Court. Many journalists feel they should not have to testify there since otherwise they will be shot at by people commiting those crimes they're tring to document.

Here's another problem. Say a journalist is being sued for lible. Can he use unidentified sources to prove he isn't lieing? Could he identify them, but let his testimony be inadmissible evidence for any trial against the contact?

There's a flip side. If journalists can't be made to give out thier contacts, they can quote imaginary contacts on anything they want.

[Jivenwail]

2. He will never see a jail cell

Because he's a repuke journalist, bought and paid for. Unless the Whistle Ass Gang makes him a scapegoat in all this (which is highly unlikely) Novak's safe. Afterall, he says that "there is no crime" here, that he found out the information on his own. JMHO, that's crap. He got the info directly from the Whistle Ass Gang - and they should all be impeached for treason.