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| Home Front: Politix |
| Senate Bill Proposes Press Shield |
| 2006-06-30 |
| Bill introduced a month ago by Lugar, Specter, Dodd, Graham, and Shumer. Currently in Judiciary Committee. Provides a shield unless non-disclosure is blocking the resolution of a criminal or civil case Notwithstanding sections 1 through 6, a journalist, any person who employs or has an independent contract with a journalist, or communication service provider has no privilege against disclosure of any information to the extent such information is reasonably necessary to stop or prevent reasonably certain-- (1) death; or (2) substantial bodily harm. They can't protect their terrorist sources. [However, the press has no privilege if a court has determined that] "(2) in a criminal investigation or prosecution of an unauthorized disclosure of properly classified Government information by an employee of the United States, such unauthorized disclosure has seriously damaged the national security, alternative sources of the information identifying the source have been exhausted, and the harm caused by the unauthorized disclosure of properly classified Government information clearly outweighs the value to the public of the disclosed information." i.e. the press probably wouldn't have to disclose the Plame source, but they must disclose the source who outed the SWIFT program. (But then, they've been claiming that the Plame leak is serious, and reasonable people would agree that the value to the public is zero, so maybe they do have to disclose the source....) Some classified information has no real importance, leak away, business as usual. |
| Posted by:KBK |
| #6 |
| Posted by: newc 2006-06-30 20:50 |
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| Posted by: Mike 2006-06-30 15:24 |
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| Posted by: AlanC 2006-06-30 15:18 |
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| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-06-30 15:13 |
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| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2006-06-30 14:40 |
| #1 |
| Posted by: Angaimble Flairong5737 2006-06-30 13:48 |