Everything online journalists need to protect their legal rights. This free resource culls from all Reporters Committee resources and includes exclusive content on digital media law issues.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., center, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is flanked by Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., right, and, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Mich., left, as they face reporters on Capitol Hill after a meeting on national security leaks in Washington, D.C.
George Freeman, a former New York Times attorney, confers with journalist Judith Miller in 2005 prior to her testifying in favor of reporters’ privilege legislation on Capitol Hill.
The Obama Administration has indicted six government employees under the 1917 Espionage Act for sharing classified information with the press — more than all previous administrations combined. However, all of the employees whose cases have seen the inside of the courtroom have had all or part of the Espionage Act charges against them dropped.
Former CIA officer John Kiriakou leaves federal court in Alexandria, Va.
In 2009, President Obama promised to create a more transparent, whistleblower-friendly government.
But the reality is that federal employees who have given government secrets to news media organizations in recent years have ended up being prosecuted as leakers.
Update, Oct. 23: Kiriakou pleaded guilty today to one count of disclosing information identifying a covert agent and will likely be sentenced to two and a half years years imprisonment under a plea deal with prosecutors. As part of the agreement, the remaining four counts of the indictment, including three counts of violating the Espionage Act, were dismissed. Kiriakou is scheduled to be sentenced in January.
The Pentagon Press Association is awaiting a response to a letter submitted to the Pentagon outlining journalists' concerns over the U.S. Department of Defense's new policy for countering national security leaks.
The organization submitted a letter to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, seeking clarification on the statement the Pentagon released last week instilling new procedures for handling leaks, including officials being more vigilant monitoring the media.
The federal government asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces on Monday to become the third court to deny the public access to military court documents in the court-martial of Pfc. Bradley Manning. The government’s argument: the Freedom of Information Act is the proper method to obtain the materials.
The U.S. government announced it will not subpoena journalists as witnesses in the prosecution of a former intelligence officer who allegedly leaked classified information.
In an attempt to "deter and detect" officials leaking information to news media organizations, the head of the country's intelligence community unveiled new measures on Monday, including lie detector tests and inspector general investigations, for preventing unauthorized disclosures.
A former CIA intelligence officer pleaded not guilty this morning to federal charges that he violated the Espionage Act by leaking classified documents to journalists.
