Judge Holds Reporter In Contempt Of Court Over Sources For Anthrax Stories

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON - A federal judge held a former USA Today reporter in contempt of court Friday and ordered her to pay up to $5,000 a day if she refuses to identify her sources for stories about a former Army scientist under scrutiny in the 2001 anthrax attacks.

U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton said Toni Locy must pay fines out of her own pocket as long as she continues to defy his order that she cooperate in scientist Steven J. Hatfill's lawsuit against the government.

Hatfill accuses the Justice Department of violating his privacy by discussing the investigation with reporters.

Locy had asked that a contempt citation be delayed while she appeals to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The judge refused.

Starting at midnight Tuesday, Locy is ordered to pay fines of $500 a day for the first week, $1,000 a day for the second week and $5,000 thereafter until she appears before the judge on April 3.



Read more: http://www.startribune.com/nation/16412991.html

[fascisthunter]

1. That Was a Disgusting Hit Piece on the Former Army Scientist

How hope she caves.....

[OKthatsIT]

2. Yeah..it's a HIT PIECE.

You're right.

Congress just made it clear(reinstated la) that Journalist do nnot have to reveal vulnerable whistleblower sources.

[MaryCeleste]

5. Have some source material for that?

It would be useful to have on hand.

[McCamy Taylor]

3. The Bushies will reimburse her and the MSM will call her a heroine for protecting

whichever NeoCon fed her the propaganda---just like Judy Miller.

If she were a REAL whistleblower, the DOJ would be prosecuting here.
I am sick of all the journalist scabs.

[Mythsaje]

4. Another petty little would-be godling with no respect for ethics, eh?

I can understand the man's need to sue the government if it tried to scapegoat him for the anthrax scare, but breaking a reporter's protection of her sources is a bad, bad road to travel down no matter how you slice it.

[krkaufman]

6. Agreed. It becomes even more difficult when the leakers ...

... appear not to be whistleblowers but government operatives looking to advance their cause.