Friendly faces in Congress

The key figures who could play a part in reporter’s privilege legislation.

From the Winter 2007 issue of The News Media & The Law, page 9.

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the new chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is a strong supporter of a federal shield law.

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), the former chairman of the Judiciary Committee and the current ranking member of the committee, co-sponsored the qualified shield bill introduced in the last Congress.

Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), the new chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, is a strong shield bill supporter who sponsored shield legislation in the 1970s and wrote to the Justice Department in January urging it to drop the subpoenas issued to two San Francisco Chronicle reporters.

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, co-sponsored the 2005 version of the shield bill.