Washington Thinking of Making Investigative Journalism Illegal
July 12, 2012 at 2:35 PM Leave a comment
This could be seen as a shot from Washington across the bow to reporters all around the country:
(Image via Bilerico.com)
In response to New York Times stories that relied on leaks of sensitive national-security information, a House of Representatives panel on Wednesday discussed legislation that could allow journalists to be prosecuted for disclosing such information.
Army Col. Ken Allard testified to a House Judiciary subcommittee that the extent of national security leaks is “unprecedented” in American history. Recent examples include the Times’ investigations of President Barack Obama’s terrorist “kill list” and American cyberattacks on Iran.
The First Amendment says:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
This is a dangerous road to go down. We need to know about “kill lists” and cyber attacks on other countries. Those are things our elected officials — who answer to us — are doing in our name. We have a right to know about them. The government is us. It’s not a power unto itself like a dictatorship or a monarchy.
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