"Every American should be concerned about the Trump administration's threat to step up its efforts against whistleblowers and journalists," said Ben Wizner, director of the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project. (Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr/cc)
In 'Direct Attack on the First Amendment,' Sessions Declares War on Leaks
Press freedom groups argued the crackdown would foster a "McCarthy-esque culture within the federal government"
Citing the "staggering" number of leaks that have emerged from the Trump White House over the last several months, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced during a press conference on Friday that the Justice Department is gearing up to intensify its pursuit of those who disclose sensitive and classified information.
"The crackdown is a backdoor way of attacking journalists on whom the public relies to be informed about government misconduct."
--Jesselyn Radack, ExposeFacts
Sessions went on to declare that the Justice Department will seek to punish not just those who leak the information, but also the news organizations that decide to publish it. The department will soon be conducting a "review" of its "policies affecting media subpoenas," Sessions said.
These comments--which come in the midst of President Donald Trump's sustained attacks on journalists and the media--were viewed by press freedom groups, journalists, and civil libertarians as "a direct attack on the First Amendment."
Ben Wizner, director of the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, said in response to Sessions's press conference that "[e]very American should be concerned about the Trump administration's threat to step up its efforts against whistleblowers and journalists," as it represents an attack "on democracy as a whole."
"These first months of the Trump administration dramatically illustrate" the necessity of a free press, Wizner concluded. "Can anyone seriously argue that our country would be better off if the public received all of its information through official channels alone?"
Jesselyn Radack, director of the Whistleblower and Source Protection Program (WHISPeR) at ExposeFacts, echoed these sentiments in a statement on Friday, arguing that Sessions appears bent on fostering a "McCarthy-esque culture within the federal government."
"The Justice Department's crackdown on leaks wrongly targets and punishes national security whistleblowers, who have no meaningful internal channels for dissent or meaningful protection from retaliation," Radack said. "The crackdown is a backdoor way of attacking journalists on whom the public relies to be informed about government misconduct."
Journalists also weighed in on social media:
According to the Freedom of the Press Foundation, "Sessions's comments seem intended to have a chilling effect on journalism, by making reporters and their sources think twice before publishing information that the government does not like. That will leave leave all Americans less informed about what the Trump administration is doing behind closed doors.
FINAL DAY! This is urgent.
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission from the outset was simple. To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It’s never been this bad out there. And it’s never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed and doing some of its best and most important work, the threats we face are intensifying. Right now, with just hours left in our Spring Campaign, we're still falling short of our make-or-break goal. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Can you make a gift right now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? There is no backup plan or rainy day fund. There is only you. —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Citing the "staggering" number of leaks that have emerged from the Trump White House over the last several months, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced during a press conference on Friday that the Justice Department is gearing up to intensify its pursuit of those who disclose sensitive and classified information.
"The crackdown is a backdoor way of attacking journalists on whom the public relies to be informed about government misconduct."
--Jesselyn Radack, ExposeFacts
Sessions went on to declare that the Justice Department will seek to punish not just those who leak the information, but also the news organizations that decide to publish it. The department will soon be conducting a "review" of its "policies affecting media subpoenas," Sessions said.
These comments--which come in the midst of President Donald Trump's sustained attacks on journalists and the media--were viewed by press freedom groups, journalists, and civil libertarians as "a direct attack on the First Amendment."
Ben Wizner, director of the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, said in response to Sessions's press conference that "[e]very American should be concerned about the Trump administration's threat to step up its efforts against whistleblowers and journalists," as it represents an attack "on democracy as a whole."
"These first months of the Trump administration dramatically illustrate" the necessity of a free press, Wizner concluded. "Can anyone seriously argue that our country would be better off if the public received all of its information through official channels alone?"
Jesselyn Radack, director of the Whistleblower and Source Protection Program (WHISPeR) at ExposeFacts, echoed these sentiments in a statement on Friday, arguing that Sessions appears bent on fostering a "McCarthy-esque culture within the federal government."
"The Justice Department's crackdown on leaks wrongly targets and punishes national security whistleblowers, who have no meaningful internal channels for dissent or meaningful protection from retaliation," Radack said. "The crackdown is a backdoor way of attacking journalists on whom the public relies to be informed about government misconduct."
Journalists also weighed in on social media:
According to the Freedom of the Press Foundation, "Sessions's comments seem intended to have a chilling effect on journalism, by making reporters and their sources think twice before publishing information that the government does not like. That will leave leave all Americans less informed about what the Trump administration is doing behind closed doors.
Citing the "staggering" number of leaks that have emerged from the Trump White House over the last several months, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced during a press conference on Friday that the Justice Department is gearing up to intensify its pursuit of those who disclose sensitive and classified information.
"The crackdown is a backdoor way of attacking journalists on whom the public relies to be informed about government misconduct."
--Jesselyn Radack, ExposeFacts
Sessions went on to declare that the Justice Department will seek to punish not just those who leak the information, but also the news organizations that decide to publish it. The department will soon be conducting a "review" of its "policies affecting media subpoenas," Sessions said.
These comments--which come in the midst of President Donald Trump's sustained attacks on journalists and the media--were viewed by press freedom groups, journalists, and civil libertarians as "a direct attack on the First Amendment."
Ben Wizner, director of the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, said in response to Sessions's press conference that "[e]very American should be concerned about the Trump administration's threat to step up its efforts against whistleblowers and journalists," as it represents an attack "on democracy as a whole."
"These first months of the Trump administration dramatically illustrate" the necessity of a free press, Wizner concluded. "Can anyone seriously argue that our country would be better off if the public received all of its information through official channels alone?"
Jesselyn Radack, director of the Whistleblower and Source Protection Program (WHISPeR) at ExposeFacts, echoed these sentiments in a statement on Friday, arguing that Sessions appears bent on fostering a "McCarthy-esque culture within the federal government."
"The Justice Department's crackdown on leaks wrongly targets and punishes national security whistleblowers, who have no meaningful internal channels for dissent or meaningful protection from retaliation," Radack said. "The crackdown is a backdoor way of attacking journalists on whom the public relies to be informed about government misconduct."
Journalists also weighed in on social media:
According to the Freedom of the Press Foundation, "Sessions's comments seem intended to have a chilling effect on journalism, by making reporters and their sources think twice before publishing information that the government does not like. That will leave leave all Americans less informed about what the Trump administration is doing behind closed doors.