NYT: Inquiry Into Wiretapping Article Widens

[sabra]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/12/politics/12inquire.html?hp&ex=1139720400&en=bec57e8374e374e4&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Inquiry Into Wiretapping Article Widens

By DAVID JOHNSTON
Published: February 12, 2006

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 — Federal agents have interviewed officials at several of the country's law enforcement and national security agencies in a rapidly expanding criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding a New York Times article published in December that disclosed the existence of a highly classified domestic eavesdropping program, according to government officials.

The investigation, which appears to cover the case from 2004, when the newspaper began reporting the story, is being closely coordinated with criminal prosecutors at the Justice Department, the officials said. People who have been interviewed and others in the government who have been briefed on the interviews said the investigation seemed to lay the groundwork for a grand jury inquiry that could lead to criminal charges.

The inquiry is progressing as a debate about the eavesdropping rages in Congress and elsewhere. President Bush has condemned the leak as a "shameful act." Others, like Porter J. Goss, the C.I.A. director, have expressed the hope that reporters will be summoned before a grand jury and asked to reveal the identities of those who provided them classified information.

Mr. Goss, speaking at a Senate intelligence committee hearing on Feb. 2, said: "It is my aim and it is my hope that we will witness a grand jury investigation with reporters present being asked to reveal who is leaking this information. I believe the safety of this nation and the people of this country deserve nothing less."

[saltpoint]

1. How about an article about what veteran CIA employees think of

their new boss?

I'd read that.

[Vincardog]

2. What about Valarie Plame? Where is the outrage there?

[Straight Shooter]

6. No kidding. Talk about a shameful leak. These people are despicable. n/t

[rodeodance]

20. we have a very vengeful WH.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. When it comes to chilling effects on whistleblowers,

the Bushies don't mess around. They go straight for the icicle suppository.

[DemInDistress]

4. let's say bush is humping kids in the whitehouse (gannon,rove) and

I see him and blow the whistle..am I guilty of leaking or is bush guilty of kiddie humping? or are we both guilty only I will be sent to prison because I'm not the president..maybe that's not a goos analogy ut help me here if you can..
bush says,shame on the person who leaked the fact that I'm committing a crime..something's wrong with that picture..fuzzy,foggy I can't see!!

[RC]

5. Gee, the administration is breaking the law and it is exposed

and where is the outrage pointed? At the person/people that exposed the law breaking. What is wrong with this picture?

[rodeodance]

13. makes my head spin!

[w13rd0]

7. And I believe...

...Mr Porter Goss deserves a severe beating. What an asshat! Shameless partisan hackery masquerading as thuggery.

[Lochloosa]

8. Mr. Goss...

Go Fuck Yourself!

[Drum]

9. Then that oath thing would kick in at last, huh?

;)

[wellst0nev0ter]

10. Waitaminute

The investigation, which appears to cover the case from 2004, when the newspaper began reporting the story,

At what point in 2004 did the Screw York Times cover this story, instead of sitting on it in deference to *?

[rodeodance]

19. They held the story for over a year I have read--some say from just

before the 2004 elections-but I do not recall exactly.

[AndyTiedye]

11. These People Have No Shame. None Whatsoever.

[JerseygirlCT]

12. What are the chances that this finally wakes the mainstream press

up to the gag they've voluntarily placed on themselves throughout this administration's tenure?

Does this finally piss them off enough that they take him on?

Or do they fold, yet again, and meekly beg for more of the same?

[Up2Late]

14. Let me get this straight, they interviewing about the LEAK!!!

...of information about an ILLEGAL PROGRAM?!?!? :wtf:

Yeah, let's call a Grand Jury for THAT! :nuke: :argh: :nuke:

I guess my lack of sleep is catching up to me, it took this Reuters re-cap to understand this twisted logic.

Probe of domestic eavesdropping leak expands: report

Sat Feb 11, 2006 11:57 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Federal agents have interviewed officials at several law enforcement and national security agencies in a criminal investigation into The New York Times' disclosure of a U.S. domestic eavesdropping program, the newspaper reported. In a story posted to its Web site to appear in its Sunday editions, The Times said the investigation was focused on circumstances surrounding its disclosure late last year of the highly classified program.

Officials and others interviewed by the Times said the investigation seemed to lay the groundwork for a grand jury inquiry and possible criminal charges, the Times said. Many described the investigation as aggressive and fast moving, with the initial focus on identifying government officials who have had contacts with Times reporters, particularly those in the newspaper's Washington bureau.

It said an FBI team had questioned employees at the FBI, the National Security Agency, the Justice Department, the CIA and the office of the Director of National Intelligence, and that prosecutors had taken steps to activate a grand jury. President George W. Bush has condemned the leak as a "shameful act" and CIA Director Porter Goss told a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on February 2: "It is my aim, and it is my hope that we will witness a grand jury investigation with reporters present being asked to reveal who is leaking this information."

The Times characterized the case as one that pits the government, for which "the investigation represents an effort to punish those responsible for a serious security breach" and news outlets, for which the inquiry threatens confidentiality of sources "and the ability to report on controversial national security issues free of government interference."

(more at link below)

<http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=11180528&src=rss/domesticNews>

[rodeodance]

18. beyond unbelieveable!

[rodeodance]

15. Reuters---Probe of domestic eavesdropping leak expands: report

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060212/us_nm/security_eavesdropping_dc;_ylt=AqdKqhXfOZki8Y47rf7ak9Ss0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3ODdxdHBhBHNlYwM5NjQ-

Probe of domestic eavesdropping leak expands: report

Probe of domestic eavesdropping leak expands: report

59 minutes ago

Federal agents have interviewed officials at several law enforcement and national security agencies in a criminal investigation into The New York Times' disclosure of a U.S. domestic eavesdropping program, the newspaper reported.

In a story posted to its Web site to appear in its Sunday editions, The Times said the investigation was focused on circumstances surrounding its disclosure late last year of the highly classified program.

Officials and others interviewed by the Times said the investigation seemed to lay the groundwork for a grand jury inquiry and possible criminal charges, the Times said.

Many described the investigation as aggressive and fast moving, with the initial focus on identifying government officials who have had contacts with Times reporters, particularly those in the newspaper's Washington bureau.

[rodeodance]

16. 4.5 stars

RECOMMEND THIS STORY

Your Recommendation:

Average (135 votes)
4.5 stars

[rodeodance]

17. "Many described the investigation as aggressive and fast moving" Seems,

the WH moves fast when it has it own agenda--but slow on katrina and Plame etc etc




.....Many described the investigation as aggressive and fast moving, with the initial focus on identifying government officials who have had contacts with Times reporters, particularly those in the newspaper's Washington bureau.

[EFerrari]

21. Whoever leaked to the NYT, I want to contribute to their

defense fund.