I supported Obama and worked for the campaign in 2008. I'm sad to see that this administration has been <i>more</i> aggressive in leak persecution than GWB.<p>I don't think there is anything wrong in pursuing illegal leaks of classified information. I <i>DO</i> think it's wrong to target bona fide journalists for criminal prosecution based on their reporting. The optics of this kind of thing are bad no matter how you look at it.<p>As a reporter, you're allowed to ask a question. You have no right to information a source is legally required to withhold. That said, if <i>they</i> violate that requirement, it's not your fault. Obtaining the private emails of journalists is crossing a line. It makes it impossible for a journalist to guarantee the safety of their sources.<p>I think Holder is on pretty thin ice here and generations of future journalists are going to look at what happened and adjust their methods. As citizens, we have a right to know what our government does even if it doesn't want us to.<p>If a person with information decides to risk their freedom so that citizens can be informed, that's their choice. Attacking the fifth estate will make revolutionaries of us all.
Well ... looks like it's time for every news organization to implement this:<p><a href="http://www.newyorker.com/strongbox/" rel="nofollow">http://www.newyorker.com/strongbox/</a>
It sounds like there was an actual warrant in this case? Not a huge fan of the actions taken here but it's not as horrendous as the end run around oversight that the subpoenas entail.
This is part of an extremely strong partisan streak in HN's political postings over the last year or two which I find irritating and inappropriate.<p>If I wanted right-wing skewed tech news, there is already Slashdot.