WP: Subpoenas in CIA Leak Probe Opposed

[Whoa_Nelly]

By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 9, 2004; Page A07


Two news media organizations have filed motions to quash subpoenas that were issued by a special prosecutor investigating the leak of a covert CIA officer's identity, attorneys in the case said yesterday.

The motions, filed under seal Friday as part of ongoing grand jury proceedings in Washington, ask a judge to throw out the subpoenas or issue a protective order blocking testimony, according to Robin Bierstedt, deputy general counsel for Time magazine.

Special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald has subpoenaed Tim Russert, host of NBC News's "Meet the Press," and Time reporter Matt Cooper as part of the inquiry into whether White House officials leaked the name of Valerie Plame, a CIA officer married to former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV. Wilson, a harsh critic of the Bush administration's Iraq policy, has suggested that Plame's undercover status was revealed as retaliation.

Bierstedt said the government has until June 16 to respond to the motions by Time and NBC News. An attorney for the network declined to comment, and an NBC spokeswoman did not return a telephone call.

more...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26343-2004Jun8.html

[KoKo]

1. ROFL! Media Attorneys not responding to phone calls from Media!

you gotta howl with laughter at that one! The Media showing arrogance to their own. Why didn't the Media Lawyers just say: "A reporters sources are confidential and it's our job to defend their right to confidentiality."

Instead they don't return phone calls even to defend this? Odd, but funny.

[lancdem]

2. I don't think this will slow down the investigation

I suspect Fitzgerald will bring indictments even without journalists' testimony.

[gratuitous]

3. WHY DOES TIM RUSSERT HATE AMERICA?

Doesn't he believe in the laws of our great nation? Why wouldn't he want to assist in the solving of a crime against the people of the country? Why, oh why does he hate America so much?

GENBC should get this America hater off the public airwaves.

[Cocoa]

5. Big Russ is rolling over in his grave

[bobthedrummer]

4. Because of the fact that the CIA has employees in the US media

these journalists should just give up their sources. Reform is needed.
Or they can go to jail and observe omerta for BFEE.

[MidwestTransplant]

6. This worries me.

Supposedly prosecutors only subpoena press as a last resort. We can only hope Fitzgerald is just being very thorough.

[lancdem]

7. He is being thorough

This does not mean he's lacking evidence. Remember, he's from Chicago, so he isn't impressed by Washington niceties. He's not afraid to ruffle feathers in pursuit of the truth.

[snippy]

8. Why doesn't the White House just release the journalists from any

obligation to keep the sources confidential. Shortly after Richard Clarke's testimony to the 9/11 Commission, this was done concerning a briefing on terrorism given by Clarke as an unidentified administration source.