Holder involved in decision to ask for search warrant for reporter's private emails
Washington (CNN) - Attorney General Eric Holder was involved in the Justice Department's decision to seek a search warrant for Fox News reporter James Rosen's private e-mails, a Justice official told CNN.
The decision to apply for the search warrant was vetted at the department's highest levels, including Holder, the official said, although the decision to issue a warrant was made by a federal magistrate judge.
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The Obama administration's aggressive posture against leaks to reporters on national security matters has come under scrutiny recently as probes of Rosen and Associated Press reporters have come to light.
It prompted Obama to announce on Thursday he has directed Holder to review federal guidelines for investigating leaks and reporters. That review will include assembling a panel of media representatives.
Justice Department officials dug into the phone records of AP reporters, including work, cell, and home lines, the news agency said earlier this month. It said investigators were looking into its account of a foiled plot to bomb a U.S. airliner in May 2012.
AP reporters were never labeled as suspected criminals, but an FBI affidavit used to obtain the warrant for Rosen's e-mails described him as potentially being an "aider and abettor and/or co-conspirator" to the crime of disclosing government secrets.
That case centers on a 2009 Fox News report on classified intelligence about North Korea.
No charges have been brought against Rosen or Fox News.
Obama said Thursday he was "troubled by the possibility that leak investigations may chill the investigative journalism that holds government accountable."
- CNN's Kevin Liptak and Gregory Wallace contributed to this report
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Be is are am was were been has have had
With an unprecedented number of National Security leaks during this Administrations term, the right wonders why the clamp down.??? Given the actions of the Obstructionist Party over the last 4.5 yrs, it's about time the Obama administration tracked these leaks down ad stopped them. Transparency is one thing, 1st Amendment rights taking precedence over treasonous acts is another.
Where was the right wing outrage when the Bush administration outed an active CIA agent? If the shoe fits?
So Holder is asked to evaluate the appropriateness of the warrants he personally signed off on. Hmmm, let me guess how this is going to turn out. Why doesn't he recuse himself from the case, and let someone independent do it? Better yet, why doesn't he recuse himself from office and let someone competent do it?
If he is getting classified information, then he s party to a crime and should be investigated. The party on the other end is definitely a criminal and should be prosecuted. If he is protected by the reporter then he is a party to the crime. Freedom of the press does not give a reporter the right to obtain classified info. That's called spying.
"Contents" line item from the book "Tyranny is Fun" by Barry Soetoro
Chapter 1 ... The Path to Marshall Law
Someone needs to get his/her politically biased head out of his ignorant heinie. AGs do NOT "approve warrants". JUDGES DO. AGs can only REQUEST warrants. JUDGES issue, or deny, them.
If there was no reason to check his emails then the judge wouldn't have authorized it in the first place. I don't agree with the targeting of the AP guys, but the FOX guy if true was part of anti US government activities and aiding and abetting and co conspirator to disclosing government secrets. He was a FOX reported which means he is anti US government to start with just like terrorists.
Enough already!
Eric 'Fast and Furious' Holder and President 'You Didnt Build That' Obama, make Nixon look like a petty thief.
Find which republican Congress-critter leaked secrets to the journalists.
Judging by some of these posts it is OK to out CIA agents and CIA operations.
J@im
The Obama administration, as a whole, is incredibly arrogant and heavy-handed
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When the opposition Party declares (from day-one) to obstruct all progress and make a President a "one-term President" what choices are available? When compromise becomes a dirty word – avoided by Republicans seeking election from their base what can a President do to move the country forward? Republicans in the Senate filibustered EVERYTHING! They wouldn't even allow DEBATE! Mitch McConnell filibustered HIS OWN PROPOSAL! What would you do in that case?
This administration is the worst ever. Obama said he was going to have the most transparent administration, and because he is an arrogant he still says it is. Holder is as incompetent as they come, he lies through his teeth,just like "his boss." Their favorite words are: "I don't know." " I just found out." This administration is a "joke."
As predicted, no defense of Rosen's actions from posters here. Doubtless because they're not reading what the story is about.
Go spin a top, conservatives. If you want to be taken seriously in political debates, confront those details that don't conform to your narrative.
Send Holder to jail.
If its a matter of national security I see no problem why Holder would not wanting to find out where the leak is coming from. I am glad he was on the ball on this matter. Congratulation President Obama and Secretary Holden.
LOL I am sure Obama told you to say that as you have NO idea what you are even talking about OR you are being oddly sarcastic.
I find it absolutely hilarious beyond reason that Holder is going to "investigate" himself over his conduct unbecoming of targeting Rosen. That is outright hilarious. Yet more bright moments from this Administration.
Get Real Johnny 57! Obama and Holder are as illegal as they come...they both must go, and throw Clinton in jail, too.
Jim
The Obama administration, as a whole, is incredibly arrogant and heavy-handed (which the last few weeks should have taught even the stupidest amongst us). The fact that Holder is still in office is beyond amazing. Either he's a complete idiot and complete failure as a leader because he lets his people run rampant and do all manner of illegal things; or he's a "big brother" maniac who feels he can do anything he wants to further the President's agenda. Take your pick, but he should have been fired long ago either way.
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In what way is signing off on a request for a warrant illegal?
lock him up!
Barry is deeply disturbed about a lot of scandals these days – that his posse is getting caught doing them.
johnny57 I hope you were being sarcastic, because if not you are severely uninformed. By your standards Daniel Ellsberg should have been executed, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward should have been at least prosecuted.
Please, this warrant was executed in 2009, if there was any evidence of any criminal wrongdoing by Mr. Rosen he would have been charged looooong time ago!
Yeah, law enforcement, investigating a felony, asked for and received a search warrant from the appropriate judge.
As usual, Cons are complaining about nothing.
I don't know, I was not there, I did not read it, I excuse my self, I don't know who was in charge, It was not me, we need to wait for the facts, I found out from the press, no body told me, and so on. I sounds like the Obama administration gets their queue from The Abbott and Costello: Who's On First? Routine. The thing that blows my mind is that people believe Their crap.