A federal judge held a former USA TODAY reporter in contempt of court on Tuesday for failing to identify sources who named former Army scientist Steven Hatfill as a possible suspect in the 2001 anthrax attacks that killed five people.
Judge Reggie Watson promised to begin fining Tony Loci $500 dollars a day, escalating to as much as $5,000 per day until she gives up her sources.
If you recall it was Hatfill who was named a “person of interest” in 2002 by then Attorney General John Ashcroft. However, the scientist has never been charged with a crime nor has any evidence of his guilt ever been presented to anyone.
Hatfill is arguing in court that since the media linked him to the Anthrax deaths his reputation has been damaged beyond repair.
Locy is one of five reporters Hatfill has subpoenaed to disclose government sources who identified him as a possible suspect.
I’m not sure what the reporter should do in this case, but I do know that the media is completely out of control in the country. They routinely get away with leaking classified information to the world that damages our national security.
Now journalists are urging Congress to pass a shield law which will prevent reporters from being subpoenaed to reveal their sources. That’s a horrible idea considering how irresponsible the press is.
The person who leaked the NSA wiretapping program to The NY Times should be in jail and the person who reported it should be in jail.
A free press is a fundamental part of our Democracy, but there has to be some kind of limitations on that freedom. Every other freedom we enjoy as Americans has certain limitations to it and freedom of the press should be no different.
-Chris Jones
