Reporters Committee troubled by FBI’s stance on impersonating journalists

David Boardman, chairman of the steering committee of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, issued the following statement today related to a report by the Department of Justice’s Inspector General on the FBI’s impersonation of journalists:

“The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press is deeply troubled by today’s disclosure in a report from the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General that the FBI believes that there is a place in this country for federal agents to impersonate journalists. Such a policy can seriously damage both the public’s trust in its free press and the ability of journalists to hold government accountable. We urge the Justice Department to take seriously the need for reform and the importance of protecting the integrity of the newsgathering process.”