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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH
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To: sandintoes who wrote (709567)10/29/2005 11:43:27 AM
From: paret  Read Replies (1) of 769670
 
Some See Indictment as 'a Devastating Day for Journalism'
Los Angeles Times ^ | October 29, 2005 | James Rainey and Matea Gold, Times Staff Writers

Accustomed to telling the story rather than being at the center of it, three journalists faced the extraordinary prospect Friday of holding key information that could send a top White House operative to prison. A variety of media watchers said they found that prospect chilling.

In what promises to be an uncommonly media-centric prosecution, Special Prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald charged vice presidential Chief of Staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby largely based on the testimony of journalists: NBC's Tim Russert, Time magazine White House correspondent Matthew Cooper and New York Times reporter Judith Miller.

They contradicted Libby under oath, exposing him to charges of obstructing justice, making false statements and perjury.

And Libby, who had been Vice President Dick Cheney's top aide until he resigned Friday, sought to use the media in his alibi — telling investigators he had not leaked the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame but was at the end of a long chain of journalists who passed on a rumor.

On at least three occasions during his news conference Friday, Fitzgerald cautioned journalists and the public not to fear that the case would open the floodgates to prosecutors demanding testimony from journalists about their confidential sources.

"I do not think that reporters should be subpoenaed anything close to routinely," said the prosecutor. "It should be an extraordinary case. But … what is different here is the transaction here is between a person and a reporter; they're the eyewitness to the crime."

Some media analysts said they appreciated Fitzgerald's assurances and acknowledgment of the importance of reporters protecting confidential sources. But they also worried that the prosecutor's actions could set an unfortunate precedent.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
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