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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSessions suggests it may be time to send more journalists to jail
This nation must end this culture of leaks, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced on Friday seemingly unaware that government officials have used leaks to undermine their political rivals at least since Alexander Hamilton deployed similar tactics against Thomas Jefferson. Sessions added that the press cannot place lives at risk with impunity, and that the Justice Department is currently reviewing its policy governing subpoenas targeting members of the media.
Link to tweet
Sessions announcement follows a statement by Donald Trump calling upon the attorney general to crack down on leakers, as well as a critical tweet.
Link to tweet
Though it is unclear how, specifically, the Justice Department will change its policy governing media subpoenas, the current rules give Sessions a lot of leeway to make life hell for many reporters. Although DOJ rules do offer some protections against rogue prosecutors who pay too little respect to the freedom of the press, they were not designed to prevent the attorney general himself from targeting journalists.
Current rules provides that the Justice Department typically may only subpoena non-consenting journalists after authorization by the Attorney General, or by another senior official. The rules also require DOJ to subpoena journalists only as a last resort, and only after negotiations with the affected member of the news media have been pursued and appropriate notice to the affected member of the news media has been provided. Nevertheless, many of these limitations can also be overcome if the Attorney General determines that, for compelling reasons, such negotiations or notice would pose a clear and substantial threat to the integrity of the investigation, risk grave harm to national security, or present an imminent risk of death or serious bodily harm.
https://thinkprogress.org/how-sessions-can-make-trump-happy-by-making-reporters-lives-miserable/
rzemanfl
(29,581 posts)pangaia
(24,324 posts)This pip squeek reminds me of that flick.
And-
That huge press.....
Boomerproud
(7,976 posts)That would keep you guys in Justice busy 24/7.
burrowowl
(17,655 posts)GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)If they truly send career FBI agents off to find leaker with unlimited resources, the white house will be empty.
Skittles
(153,261 posts)then they squawk about "putting lives at risk"
FUCK YOU SESSIONS
bdamomma
(63,955 posts)I hope more come out each day.
spanone
(135,921 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)You fascist little elf! You are next on the chopping block and I hope to hell that pig fires you and that your career is over for good.