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Blog of Adam Daifallah -- author, journalist, law student. Lover of politics, writing, golf, curling, fitness, fashion, bacon and maple products -- not necessarily (but probably) in that order. Partisan of the Anglosphere. Contact me via email at adam@daifallah.com. This summer I am joined by Keir Wilmut and Omar Soliman.
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Judith Miller, freedom fighter
This is a very important story: Judith Miller, a crackerjack reporter at The New York Times, is facing jail time because she refuses to name confidential sources. This all has to do with the Valerie Plame affair, in which columnist Bob Novak reported the name of a CIA agent (Plame) which is illegal.
If you're wondering why Miller is in trouble with the law, well, so am I. She never even published a story about Plame. But just for apparently obtaining the information, she is facing serious reprimand:
U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan ordered Miller jailed until she agrees to testify about her sources before a grand jury, but said she could remain free while pursuing an appeal. Miller could be jailed up to 18 months. "
I'm extremely disappointed that I have been sentenced to jail despite the fact that I did not write, and The Times did not publish, an article about (CIA officer) Valerie Plame," Miller said in a statement. "It's frankly frightening that just for doing my job and talking to government employees about public issues, I may be deprived of my freedom and family."
As Arthur Sulzberger, the Times' publisher, said in a statement:
"Judy Miller has done nothing wrong. She is not the person who revealed the identity of a CIA agent. Yet she is the one who is facing time in jail while the very people who exposed Ms. Plame remain unpunished. The special counsel should be able to get to the bottom of this case without threatening reporters with jail."
I'm in complete agreement.
This is a very serious case for the future of journalism in the United States, and likely everywhere else. I have immense respect for Judy, having spent time with her last year when I was reporting in Iraq. She is an extremely gifted and hard-working reporter.
I admire her even more now for her principled stand on this issue.
Judy, we are with you all the way!!!! Keep it up!
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 3:10 PM
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