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Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Shield Law Proposal Unveiled Tomorrow
Okay, all you reporters out there. You can stop shredding your notes out of fear that prosecutors will demand them in court.
At least take a pause.
Congress is trying to come to your rescue with a bi-partisan bill that would protect notes, documents and sources from disclosure in most cases.
Reps. Rick Boucher, D-Va., John Conyers, D-Mich., John Yarmuth, D-Ken., Mike Pence, R-Ind., Rep. Howard Coble, R-N.C., are teaming up with Sens. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., to propose a federal shield law tomorrow.
Over the last few years more than 30 reporters have been compelled to testify or questioned about their confidential sources, notes and work product in criminal and civil cases in federal court.
A coalition representing more than 40 media companies and other journalistic organizations strongly back the bill.
The “Free Flow of Information Act of 2007” would set a federal standard for protecting confidential sources and journalists.
Some 32 states and the District of Columbia have “shield” laws in force in their state courts and 17 other states have recognized a reporter’s privilege as a result of judicial decisions.
Supporters of the measure say the law is needed because there is no uniform standards to determine when reporters have to testify.
The press conference details follow.
WHAT: News briefing on re-introduction of federal shield law in House and Senate WHO: Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY) John Sturm, president and CEO, Newspaper Association of America David Rehr, president and CEO, National Association of Broadcasters Lucy Dalglish, executive director, The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press WHERE: 2226 Rayburn House Office Building WHEN: 1:00 pm EST, Wednesday, May 2, 2007
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High Ranking Justice Department Official to Tell All on Thursday
It’s no secret that the House Judiciary Committee wants immediate answers in its probe of whether eight U.S. attorneys were fired to squash public corruption investigations.
Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., announced today that the panel’s subcommittee on commercial and administrative law voted to require former Deputy Attorney General James Comey to testify about the dismissal of the prosecutors on Thursday.
“James Comey has earned a reputation in the law enforcement community of fairness and commitment to justice,” said Sánchez, chairman of the subcommittee. “I believe Mr. Comey can clear up some of the confusion created by the contradicting stories we’ve been presented.”
Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., chairman of the Judiciary committee, issued the subpoena Tuesday requiring Comey’s testimony. Comey was previously informed that he would be compelled to testify.
The committee plans to ask Comey about his role in the dismissals. Justice Department records indicate that discussions about firing the prosecutors began on his watch. They want him to elaborate on what he knows about the White House’s role in the firings.
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House Judiciary Committee Release “Privileged” Logs in U.S. Attorney Probe
New documents shed light on the reaction within the Justice Department to the on-going controversy surrounding the firing of eight U.S. attorneys.
The House Judiciary Committee released today what are known as “privileged” logs—brief descriptions of e-mail and telephone communications among Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty and other high ranking Justice officials.
“While the committee appreciates the production of these logs as a first step toward responding to our subpoena, the logs only further highlight the need to review the listed documents,” said Rep. John Conyers, Jr., D-Mich., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
“The information listed in these logs raise further concerns about the White House’s involvement in the process of hiring and firing US Attorneys,as well as the way that process was communicated to Congress,” Conyers said.
Log highlights include:
A series of emails between McNulty and his Mike Elston, his chief of staff, about a briefing with White House Counsel Fred Fielding.
An e-mail on March 3 Tasia Scolinos, director of public affiars, to McNulty, Kyle Sampson, the attorney general’s former chief of staff, and Brian Roehrkasse, deputy director of public affairs, entitled, “Discussions re: phone call with Comey re:USAs.” The e-mail is referring to former Deputy Attorney James Comey, who is scheduled to testify before the House panel on Thursday.
A bunch of “phone message slips” from early December regarding Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M. The senator called David Iglesias, the fired U.S. attorney from New Mexico, to ask about an on-going investigation of a state Democrat a few weeks before last November’s election that put the Democrats back in charge of Congress.
Two emails that McNulty forwarded to himself on 3/3 and 3/4 entitled, “Draft communication to USAs re: problems in DOJs handling of US Attorney matter.”
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Richardson: Bush “Retreated” on Immigration
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat, called on President Bush “to renew his previous commitment to passing comprehensive immigration reform and reject the divisive laws favored by extremists.”
The challenge came in a Tuesday press release from Richardson’s presidential exploratory committee which criticized some details that leaked from White House negotiations with senators on immigration, including a requirement that illegal immigrants return to their home country and pay a $10,000 fine before re-entering the U.S.
“The majority of illegal immigrants in the United States are hardworking, law-abiding people trying to improve the lives of their families. They don’t have that kind of money,” Richardson said.
In addition, he said Bush has “retreated from his previous position favoring realistic reform to a position that virtually guarantees nothing will be accomplished.”
In addition, he said Bush has “retreated from his previous position favoring realistic reform to a position that virtually guarantees nothing will be accomplished.”
Emily Lawrimore, a White House spokeswoman, said that Bush’s leadership on comprehensive immigration reform has been “clear and consistent” and that “perhaps Gov. Richardson suffers from selective memory loss.”
In addition, Lawrimore pointed out that President Bush on Saturday devoted both his weekly radio address and a commencement speech at Miami Dade College to the need for immigration reform.
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