GOP Senators Support Implementation of Official Secrets Act

thert

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Tuesday August 08, 2006 · 3:34 AM PDT

2006/08/08 · 03:34

Last week, the National Security Whistleblowers Coalition issued a press release in response to S. 3774, legislation introduced by Senator Christopher Bond R-MO, which would eliminate the government's burden to prove damage in prosecuting whistleblowers.

Secrecy News claims that the new legislation is identical to the anti-leak legislation that was vetoed by President Clinton in 2000.

The United States has never had a statute generally criminalizing leaks or the publication of sensitive information. Despite consideration at a number of moments in our history, concern for the First Amendment and the principle that the press acts as an important check on government abuse has thwarted all previous efforts to pass such legislation. Read More

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