Another day, another scandal. That must be the mantra of the Obama Administration Now they are defending the seizure AP reporter phone records which definitely sounds like a violation of their first amendment rights.
Other Administrations have had issues, however, now we have three very active, large investigations. Joining the AP story is Benghazi and the IRS scandal. Yes, the President seems to agree that the IRS violated conservative's rights in that case, however, if we find that the strings lead back to the White House, it could be the final nail in the coffin.
Conservative Tom
Other Administrations have had issues, however, now we have three very active, large investigations. Joining the AP story is Benghazi and the IRS scandal. Yes, the President seems to agree that the IRS violated conservative's rights in that case, however, if we find that the strings lead back to the White House, it could be the final nail in the coffin.
Conservative Tom
Holder Defends Justice Department in Seizure of Journalists’ Records
By MICHAEL D. SHEAR and SCOTT SHANE
Published: May 14, 2013 123 Comments
WASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. on Tuesday fielded questions about the seizure of telephone records from reporters and editors at The Associated Press, which apparently came in connection with an investigation of leaks inside the executive branch.
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Mr. Holder said that the leak in question — the revelation by The A.P. of a foiled terrorist plot by Al Qaeda’s branch in Yemen a year ago — was among the two or three most serious leaks he had seen since the 1970s. “It put the American people at risk,” he said, without elaborating.
Mr. Holder said that he had recused himself last year from the leak investigation and therefore had not made the decision to seek sweeping subpoenas for two months of call records for 20 telephone lines used by The A.P. and its journalists. He said he decided to turn over supervision of leak inquiries to his deputy, James M. Cole, “to make sure that this investigation was seen as independent” after F.B.I. agents interviewed him about leaks in June 2012.
Mr. Holder said he was confident that his subordinates had sought the subpoenas in accord with Justice Department regulations. Members of Congress and press advocates have expressed concern about the subpoenas, revealed on Monday by The A.P., as a dangerously broad incursion into the ability of the news media to operate without government scrutiny and a violation of press freedom.
Mr. Holder declined to say whether he had also recused himself from a separate investigation of unauthorized disclosures to The New York Times about American cyberattacks on Iran’s nuclear program.
The leak about the Yemen plot is being investigated by the United States attorney for the District of Columbia, Ronald C. Machen Jr., and the disclosures about the cyberattacks on Iran are being examined by the United States attorney for Maryland, Rod J. Rosenstein.
The White House deflected questions during its own press briefing Tuesday. The press secretary, Jay Carney, said he could not comment on the Justice Department’s actions amid the continuing investigation.
