Holder; US 'will not prosecute reporters'

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**Dreadclaw69**

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22806435

US Attorney General Eric Holder has said the justice department will not prosecute journalists for doing their jobs as long as he is in office.

Mr Holder told a Senate panel the department's investigations focus on prosecuting officials who have leaked secret information to the media.

His department is facing questions over its seizure of phone records and emails from journalists.

Officials took information from the AP and Fox News through secret warrants.

The Obama administration has defended the practice, arguing the leak that prompted the seizure of Associated Press (AP) phone records put the US at risk.

"It put the American people at risk, and that is not hyperbole," Mr Holder, who had removed himself from the AP case, said last month. "It put the American people at risk."

Mr Holder has also held meetings with news organisations to review the justice department's practices.

But several major news organisations, including the New York Times, AP and Fox News, have refused to attend as the meeting was off-the-record.

**Seaward**

Dreadclaw69 wrote:
"It put the American people at risk, and that is not hyperbole," Mr Holder, who had removed himself from the AP case, said last month. "It put the American people at risk."

Uh huh. "North Korea has nukes and sometimes does tests!" is a state secret that puts us all in danger. Panetta leaking classified DEVGRU info to filmmakers, though, that's totally kosher.

**Dreadclaw69**

Seaward wrote:
Uh huh. "North Korea has nukes and sometimes does tests!" is a state secret that puts us all in danger. Panetta leaking classified DEVGRU info to filmmakers, though, that's totally kosher.

It's only a leak when the Administration doesn't approve

**djones520**

NY Times Editorial Board On NSA Scandal: Obama 'Administration Has Now Lost All Credibility'

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/06/ny-times-editorial-board-obama-administration-lost-credibility_n_3398666.html

I don't think the NYT gives a damn what Holder says anymore.

**Dreadclaw69**

djones520 wrote:
NY Times Editorial Board On NSA Scandal: Obama 'Administration Has Now Lost All Credibility'

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/06/ny-times-editorial-board-obama-administration-lost-credibility_n_3398666.html

I don't think the NYT gives a damn what Holder says anymore.

You mean the administration that;
- wire tapped reporters from AP & Fox over leaks of classified information
- had high level members leaking classified information
- permits itself to drone US citizens
- supplied guns to cartels
- has a lot of unanswered questions about the IRS targeting political opponents, and how much they knew
- has a blanket warrant for meta-data from all of Verizon's customers that was secret until it was leaked
Is lacking credibility?

**djones520**

Hey, this is the most open administration ever.

**Breotan**

How's that "Hope & Change" working out for ya?

**Grey Templar**

Obama's new copout phrase: "He started it" *points at prior president

**djones520**

Grey Templar wrote:
Obama's new copout phrase: "He started it" *points at prior president

New? He's been doing that since day 1.

**Grey Templar**

True, but I'll give him a fighting chance and pretend I didn't hear that

**KalashnikovMarine**

Man Holder just needs to stop talking, even if he's not lying it just sounds like it because it's all he's done for the past couple years. First DOJ head to be held in contempt of congress... ever I believe.

**whembly**

djones520 wrote:
Grey Templar wrote:
Obama's new copout phrase: "He started it" *points at prior president

New? He's been doing that since day 1.

Anyone bring that up, show 'em this:

**Ouze**

In Obama's defense, do you know how hard it is to have the IRS harass his detractors without utilizing wiretaps to first identify them? Basic stuff, guys.

**dogma**

Dreadclaw69 wrote:

It's only a leak when the Administration doesn't approve

Yeah, that's pretty much how it works. In fact, that's pretty much how it has always worked, and not just in the US.

KalashnikovMarine wrote:
First DOJ head to be held in contempt of congress... ever I believe.

Janet Reno was the first, so far as I know.

**Ouze**

dogma wrote:
KalashnikovMarine wrote:
First DOJ head to be held in contempt of congress... ever I believe.

Janet Reno was the first, so far as I know.

Not to be meaning of is-is, but are you sure Janet Reno was in contempt? It looks like they never voted on the full resolution. So what does being "in contempt" actually mean? Is it like impeachment, where they have the impeachment and then the removal, or what?

**KalashnikovMarine**

Whoops, my bad, forgot about Reno.

**dogma**

Ouze wrote:

Not to be meaning of is-is, but are you sure Janet Reno was in contempt? It looks like they never voted on the full resolution. So what does being "in contempt" actually mean? Is it like impeachment, where they have the impeachment and then the removal, or what?

To be held in contempt only requires a committee citation. To be found in contempt requires the consideration, and eventual passage, of a resolution of the house which the committee is a part of.

**Ouze**

I see. Thank you for the clarification.