New York Times reporter sent to jail in leak case
{{date|July 6, 2005}}

On Wednesday, in a case that toes the line between a search for the source of criminal activity and the right to [[w:freedom of the press|freedom of the press]], a [[w:New York Times|New York Times]] reporter was jailed after she refused to reveal her confidential source to a grand jury investigating the leak of a covert [[w:CIA|CIA]] operative's name to the media.

Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan ordered correspondent [[w:Judith Miller (journalist)|Judith Miller]] to jail immediately and said she must stay there until she agreed to testify or for the rest of the grand jury's term, which lasts through October.

"If journalists cannot be trusted to keep confidences, then journalists cannot function and there cannot be a free press," she said in the courtroom.

"I do not make confidential pledges lightly, but when I do I must honor them. If I do not, how can I expect people to accept my assurances."

"Your honor, in this case I cannot break my word just to stay out of jail," Miller told the judge during the hearing which lasted about an hour.

Miller also noted that she did not consider herself to be above the law and that she had thought long and hard over the July 4 [[w:Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]] holiday about her decision.

She said her decision was necessary to help ensure an independent free press.

== Related news ==

*{{Wikinews|title=Karl Rove named as a source of Plame leak
|date=July 3, 2005}}

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2005-07-06T203206Z_01_N06237567_RTRIDST_0_USREPORT-MEDIA-LEAK-DC.XML
|title=New York Times reporter sent to jail in leak case
|author=James Vicini
|pub=Reuters.com
|date=July 6, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050706/ap_on_re_us/reporters_contempt_35
|title=Time Reporter to Testify in CIA Leak Case
|author=Pete Yost
|pub=Yahoo.com
|date=July 6, 2005}}

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[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Valerie Plame scandal]]
[[Category:CIA]]
[[Category:Karl Rove]]
[[Category:New York Times]]

[[es:Periodista de "The New York Times" puesta en prisión por no revelar sus fuentes]]
On Wednesday, in a case that toes the line between a search for the source of criminal activity and the right to freedom of the press, a New York Times reporter was jailed after she refused to reveal her confidential source to a grand jury investigating the leak of a covert CIA operative's name to the media.

Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan ordered correspondent Judith Miller to jail immediately and said she must stay there until she agreed to testify or for the rest of the grand jury's term, which lasts through October.

"If journalists cannot be trusted to keep confidences, then journalists cannot function and there cannot be a free press," she said in the courtroom.

"I do not make confidential pledges lightly, but when I do I must honor them. If I do not, how can I expect people to accept my assurances."

"Your honor, in this case I cannot break my word just to stay out of jail," Miller told the judge during the hearing which lasted about an hour.

Miller also noted that she did not consider herself to be above the law and that she had thought long and hard over the July 4 Independence Day holiday about her decision.

She said her decision was necessary to help ensure an independent free press.
North America United States Crime and law Valerie Plame scandal CIA Karl Rove New York Times