Is the person who leaked the NSA spy story protected in any way?

[Poiuyt]

Isn't there some kind of whistleblowers act? Or would that not apply here?

[AnnieBW]

1. Possibly.

But, given how aggressively NSA pursued other instances of revealing classified information, I wouldn't want to be that person.

[BushOut06]

2. LMAO - you expect them to follow the rules now?

If they ignored the law regarding the illegal wiretaps, illegal torture prisons, illegal this & that, why would you expect them to suddenly follow any whistleblower law now?

[C_U_L8R]

3. Is it a crime...

to reveal a criminal act ????

I would think it's the other way around...
that it is a crime to NOT report a criminal act...

but then we're dealing here with Wrong-way Dubya
who thinks down is up and wrong is right.

[liberalnurse]

7. Classic Rovian....turn the guns

on to the the source.....make a big media distraction.

[C_U_L8R]

8. I hate that there's such a term as "ROVIAN"

It gives the man way too much credit....
he's not a genius at all.. he's a crook..
he's good at misdirection, hiding things and shifting the blame.
You don't need a PhD for that....
just a knack for dishonesty.

I can't wait for the day that ROVIAN
becomes synonymous with being
someone's "bitch" in federal prison.
Squeel KKKarl Squeel
Like the pig that you are.

[stillcool]

4. The author is James Risen...

and he has a book coming out... "STATE OF WAR: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration"...which is the only reason the NY Times published the story when it did...after sitting on it for over a year.

[acmavm]

5. No but that person and the one who spilled the truth about the secret

prisons (taking for granted that they're two different people) are going to go down as heros in my book.

[ddeclue]

10. Presidential medals of Freedom for all Bush Whistleblowers...

When Nancy Pelosi becomes President in 2007!

Doug D.

[patcox2]

6. Whistleblower Act, and this is interesting.

The Bushies could really really shoot themselves in the foot if they prosecute.

Because right now, as someone pointed out, the law is a matter of opinion; the administration has opined that what it is doing is illegal. Thats actually normal, the law is in fact usually based on opinion and interpretation unless and until a court rules on it.

Well, if the Bush justice department prosecutes, then they will force the court to issue a ruling ono it.

Because the whistleblower defense will require the court to hear evidence about what was going on, and then issue a ruling as to whether it was illegal.

That should be the last thing the Bushies want.

[rickrok66]

9. Whistleblower protection

The Whistleblower Protection laws protect persones who have reported an illegal act or fraud, waste, and abuse to management, law enforcement, or another legal or investigative agency like the inspector general or the Judge Advocate General, not the media. This is my understanding as a former inspector general. I know the miltary law is a mirror image for DOD civilians and DOD contractors.

As other posters have alluded, if this person reported these abuses to management or the appropriate investigative agency and they did nothing or dragged their feet, then the administration may find more embarassment than they ever wanted on this issue.

I know just enough law to be dangerous, but can the accused (if identified) use vindictive prosecution as a defense?

[tn-guy]

11. No protection - This is fallout from the Plame name blame game

Like it or not, this is the logical extension of the furor over the leak regarding Valerie Plame.

The NY Times and others editorialized extensively that that leak should be prosecuted. It will be very hard now to protest against prosecution of other leaks regarding CIA activities without looking like the basest sort of hypocrite.

This is the classic case of "Be careful what you ask for, you might just get it."

[hopeisaplace]

12. they'll catch him/her by illegally bugging their phone

but maybe everyone at NSA will be under wiretap surveillance til they
get their man..:crazy: