U.S. House of Representatives panel discussed legislation that could allow the prosecution of journalists for disclosing sensitive national-security information.
Colonel Ken Allard told Congress that today information leaks related to national security have become "unprecedented." He provided examples of the recent disclosures of President Barack Obama’s terrorist “kill list” and American cyberattacks on Iran.
According to Allard, a lot of journalists’ investigations threaten U.S. national security. The colonel notes that reporters advertise their names through the scandal publications, for example, the book written by New York Times reporter David Sanger “Confront and Conceal”, which details American cyberattacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Allard testified that Sanger was “systematically penetrating the Obama White House as effectively as any foreign agent,” which he said exposed vital secrets to Iran and put the U.S. in danger of retaliation.
“Mr. Sanger deliberately placed his country at significant risk for his own profit,” Allard charged.
Such journalists’ behaviour forced the Congress to revise the legislation that defines actions that are subject to prosecution for those involved in disseminating leaked information.
“Why not send a subpoena to the reporter?” Rep. Trey Gowdy said. “Put them in front of a grand jury. You either answer a question or you’re going to be held in contempt and go to jail, which is what I thought all reporters aspire to anyway.”
The rights of American mass media to publish information are protected by the First Amendment.
Congress intends to consider the renewal of the Espionage Act (1917), which establishes penalties for those who divulge confidential information.
