House Committee Debates Role of Media in Leak Cases

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Several Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee said leaks of classified information to the press have damaged national security but after a two hour hearing left open the question of whether new corrective legislation might be needed. “The press is not above the law, including laws regarding unauthorized disclosure and use of classified information,” said Chairman Peter Hoekstra, R-MI, but he quickly added that he is “not yet willing” to advocate criminal prosecution of reporters or newspapers. But ranking member Jane Harman, D-CA, suggested press critics might want to spend some time in North Korean, China or Cuba and see if they “felt safer.” (5/30/06)