Some truths are self-evident: Such as your global ignorance, Part III
BLUMENTHAL CRIES RING HOLLOW
Demand for source protection draws laughter
HOLLYWOOD -- "If a source begins to talk about a reporter, if a reporter begins to
talk about a source, it breaks down one of the fundamental avenues of coverage,"
Marvin Kalb, director of the important Joan Shorenstein press center at Harvard
University, to Howard Kurtz in Wednesday's WASHINGTON POST.
"The grand jury subpoena of White House adviser Sidney Blumenthal exploded with
maximum force in the journalistic community yesterday, causing considerable
nervousness about the fiercely guarded relationship between reporters and their
confidential sources," writes a serious Kurtz.
Guarded relationship between reporters and their confidential sources?
Hear! Hear!
Blumenthal?
Is this the same protector of journalist standards who demanded to know DRUDGE REPORT sources involved in a story written in this space last summer -- or he would sue it into the ground for a cool $30 million?
"Before proceeding against you, Mr. and Mrs. Blumenthal want to give you an
opportunity," wrote a Blumenthal lawyer in a threat letter to the DRUDGE REPORT six months ago. "Disclose to them the following: the names of the 'top GOP operatives'... the name of the 'influential republican who demanded anonymity'... and the name of the 'White House source' whom you purported to quote.
"If you have not provided this information to my office by 5:00 pm EDT tomorrow, the
Blumenthals will take the appropriate action against you."
There was no demand for a DRUDGE REPORT retraction or correction on the story written, Blumenthal wanted sources! In fact, a Blumenthal lawyer called an immediate DRUDGE REPORT retraction and apology "drivel."
[Click for a fax of Blumenthal's source demand]
"Oh, I think we can get the source in this case," smiled a Blumenthal lawyer on CNBC.
"I want to find out who did this and bring a lawsuit against them and Grudge is--
Drudge is part of this aspect."
"[Starr is] interested in phone logs and names of reporters I've talked to," Sidney
Blumenthal told media sitting in the cafeteria of the Federal Courthouse on Tuesday.
Blumenthal was hit with a subpoena to appear before the grand jury investigating
possible obstruction of justice in the Monica Lewinsky mess.
[CRIMINAL CODE, TITLE 18. CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, PART I. CRIMES CHAPTER 73,
SECTION 1503. Whoever corruptly, or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter
or communication, endeavors to influence, intimidate, or impede any grand or petit
juror, or officer in or of any court of the United States, or officer who may be
serving at any examination or other proceeding before any United States magistrate
judge or other committing magistrate, in the discharge of his duty... or corruptly or
by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication, influences,
obstructs, or impedes, or endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede, the due
administration of justice, shall be punished as provided in subsection (b). The
punishment for an offense under this section is-- imprisonment for not more than 10
years, a fine under this title, or both.]
At issue: someone spreading dirty stories about Starr's investigators -- one story,
that's said to have really incensed Starr, involves a Starr deputy impregnating a
co-worker in the office!
"This office has received repeated press inquiries indicating that misinformation is
being spread about personnel involved in this investigation," Starr said in a
statement. "We are using traditional and appropriate techniques to find out who is
responsible and whether their actions are intended to intimidate prosecutors and
investigators, impede the work of the grand jury, or otherwise obstruct justice."
"Ken Starr regards freedom of speech and freedom of the press as worthy of
investigation as a criminal conspiracy," Mr. Blumenthal tells the LOS ANGELES TIMES.
"We view it as an assault on the First Amendment, I think this is obviously intended
to... intimidate the press," a Blumenthal lawyer told the microphones.
"It's us today and probably you tomorrow," presidential spokesman Mike McCurry warned reporters.
Oh, Mike. Oh, Sidney. You left out yesterday.
For a $30 million lawsuit was filed months ago by a White House aide we all know and love -- after a demand to reveal sources proved fruitless.
Some dare call it hypocrisy. |
