As today's Daily Progress Report of the Center for American Progress has noted:
"The New York Times--which earlier broke the story on President Bush's warrantless domestic eavesdropping program--has been the main target of attacks by the right wing and the administration" for its recent reporting on the Bush administration's not-so-secret program to track international banking transactions. "Rep. Peter King (R-NY) argued that the paper's reporters, editors, and publishers responsible for the story should be charged under the Espionage Act, punishable by up to 20 years in prison."
As the CFAP Progress Report argues, however, "While journalists do need to weigh whether reporting classified information will jeopardize national security, the administration's argument jeopardizes the 'aggressive, independent press' that is an 'essential ingredient for self-government.'"
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