Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that he would issue subpoenas for journalists to get them to give up their sources for White House leaks.
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AG Jeff Sessions, citing leaks, says he's "reviewing policies" for subpoenaing the press. "They cannot place lives at risk with impunity." pic.twitter.com/U35g1QankV
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 4, 2017
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At a press conference, Sessions said, “I have listened to career investigators and prosecutors about how to most successfully investigate and prosecute these matters. At their suggestion, one of the things we are doing is reviewing policies affecting media subpoenas. We respect the important role that the press plays and will give them respect, but it is not unlimited. They cannot place lives at risk with impunity. We must balance their role with protecting our national security and the lives of those who serve in our intelligence community, the armed forces, and all law abiding Americans.”
Let’s be honest. What the Trump White House obsession with leaks is really about is the Russia scandal. The White House doesn’t want the American people to know about Trump’s unstable and in some cases possibly criminal behavior. Without leaks, the American people would be largely in the dark about much of what is happening inside this administration.
The Trump administration can’t stop the leaks, so they are going to misuse the Justice Department to attack press freedom. The Trump White House is cornered. Jeff Sessions is up to his eyeballs in perjury, and Trump is being investigated on multiple fronts.
Threatening the press with subpoenas is a desperate measure that illustrates the futile Trump efforts to hold back the rising Russia scandal tide.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
