Chris Hedges: Monitoring of AP Phones a Terrifying Step in State Assault on Press Freedom

[limpyhobbler]

Published on May 15, 2013

http://www.democracynow.org - The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges joins us to discuss what could mark the most significant government intrusion on freedom of the press in decades. The Justice Department has acknowledged seizing the work, home and cellphone records used by almost 100 reporters and editors at the Associated Press. The phones targeted included the general AP office numbers in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Hartford, Connecticut, and the main number for the AP in the House of Representatives press gallery. The action likely came as part of a probe into the leaks behind an AP story on the U.S. intelligence operation that stopped a Yemen-based al-Qaeda bombing plot on a U.S.-bound airplane. Hedges, a senior fellow at The Nation Institute and former New York Times reporter, calls the monitoring "one more assault in a long series of assaults against freedom of information and freedom of the press." Highlighting the Obama administration's targeting of government whistleblowers, Hedges adds: "Talk to any investigative journalist who must investigate the government and they will tell you that there is a deep freeze. People are terrified of speaking, because they are terrified of going to jail."

[graham4anything]

1. ahem- Chris Hedges supported publicly Jill Stein in 2012. Of course he dislikes the President

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Hedges

In October of 2012, Hedges publicly supported Jill Stein, the candidate of the Green Party of the United States, in the 2012 United States presidential election.[17] On April 7, 2013, Hedges delivered the keynote address at the Green Party of New Jersey state convention

[snappyturtle]

6. Are saying we shouldn't listen to Chris Hedges because of his support

for Jill Stein and the Green Party?

[midnight]

12. Good question...

http://www.gp.org/candidates/2012-display.php?Campaign_CLName=Jill+Stein

[Douglas Carpenter]

15. what did Mr Hedges say during this interview was not true?

[akhen]

2. Thanks for posting

I really enjoy Chris Hedges insight and of course Amy Goodman and Democracy Now.

[limpyhobbler]

8. I'm a fan too.

An important critical we just don't get on most cable news.

[Half-Century Man]

3. I think they make some good points, however

In any criminal investigation subpoenas for phone records are fairly common place. Subpoenas for phone taps are commonplace. Investigators nearly never tell the investigated during the process. The investigated usually find out by getting knocked to the floor and handcuffed.
I would think after years of reporting on criminal investigations, the Associated Press might have considered the possibility.
The press watched the government put all the processes in place for just such an occurrence; why would they think it would not be used?

The contents of theses phone calls are undocumented. They could have been discussing favorite pizza toppings. Somebody called the AP main office from the AP phone in the capital building!.......okay...Yeah I know it's more than that. I just think the amount of admissible evidence hidden in those records in limited. With a competent lawyer, inadmissible is nonexistent.

[snappyturtle]

5. But.....sources aren't going to want to put up with this and then the

reporters and subsequently,the rest of us, are left with nothing. imho

[Half-Century Man]

7. I don't know about that.

There are other ways to communicate, beside phones. Try secret meetings in parking garages (watergate's deep throat). Microfilms kinda old school but slip a 8 gig flash drive to someone.
Evidently the DOJ is casting a vast net to catch anything. The problem with wide reach is the inability to have close focus. The chances of actually finding a pattern that aids the investigation is slim. The chances that somebody panics and calls somebody for reassurance isn't too bad. If subpoenas were issued for records, were subpoenas issued for taps?
Never watch only the moving hand.

[limpyhobbler]

9. Is it really normal to snoop first and get the subpoena after the fact?

If so that's fairly crappy.

Also I think they should have a warrant signed by a judge.

[Half-Century Man]

10. I thought the subpoena came first.

In order to get the records you'd need the subpoena.

[limpyhobbler]

11. but it wasn't signed by a judge. They wrote it themselves and signed it.

[midnight]

13. Can you tell me what process you are referring to...

[Half-Century Man]

14. I'm referring to the side stepping of due process via

our ever touted "Patriot Act" (and as the writers of the Bill Of Rights were actually Revolutionary War patriots; one would expect the ground directly over their graves to vibrate ever since the enactment of the "Patriot Act", as they roll over in their graves at 400 RPM).

[snappyturtle]

4. Regardless of Hedges' view of the President, I respect his viewpoints

because of his vast experience and knowledge. His admonitions
should probably be heeded. As upset and frustrated we become
with the MSM, we don't want reporters to be hindered in their
work because then we won't be dealing any longer with spin but
rather pure propaganda.

[drynberg]

16. Thanks for the post, I appreciate

Seeing and Hearing Chris Hedges so clearly espouse the Rights of our Constitution.

[limpyhobbler]

17. de nada -- nt