The War Against Journalism: The Government Targeting And Spying On Journalists Through The FBI And IRS Compromises The News

FBI Director Robert Mueller and Attorney General Eric Holder 

News broke recently that the FBI and IRS have been spying on and harassing journalists for being outspoken in their reporting, via matters that were deemed as having criticized the government. Over the past few weeks, the nation and world has witnessed as the government was exposed for using the FBI and IRS to spy on, intimidate and harass journalists from CBS, Fox and the Associated Press, among others, for engaging in one's constitutional right to free press and free speech. Newsgathering and reporting must be based in truth and integrity, free from harassment and intimidation tactics by an overly sensitive government, seeking to keep its unlawful secrets hidden.

Eric Holder and Robert Mueller

Journalists help keep governments honest by openly providing constructive criticism via thought provoking pieces, regarding policy and protocol. Journalists are also arbiters of truth, providing a public service that educates and enlightens. No thin-skinned bureaucrats sensitive to criticism and prone to covering up corruption, while being paid with taxpayer money, has the authority to strip anyone of their constitutional rights.

Confirmed: The FBI Spying On Journalists Emails Just As The Website Previously Stated

FBI Director Robert S. Mueller (Photo Credit: New York Times) 

This week it was revealed the FBI spied in the email box of Fox journalists, James Rosen and William La Jeunesse. They are accused of no crimes nor have they been legally charged in any matter, but the FBI and its parent agency, the Department of Justice wanted to find out their  scoops and the identity of their sources before they publish articles and news reports. This misconduct on the FBI's part constitutes criminal violations of the U.S. Constitution.

This further confirms what the Judiciary Report has been stating for years (and since 2006 in sister site the Sound Off Column) regarding a story I broke first - the FBI is going to hosting companies/e-mail service providers and secretly demanding the contents of select writers/journalists/bloggers' emails: FBI To Be Called Before Congress Over Spying and The FBI And Mobile Phone Spying and Former U.S. Government Official States The FBI Is Spying On All Americans (Video) and It Has Been Confirmed The U.S. Government Is Spying On Scientists And Doctors In Violation Of The Constitution.

Journalists and bloggers all over America are angry at this development, as it tramples free press and free speech, which are guaranteed by the Constitution. However, I’ve been warning writers online for the past few years, so they can protect themselves and their sources (New Scandal Erupts Regarding The FBI And Justice Department Monitoring Calls Of AP Reporters Confirming Previous Site Claims).

The FBI is not engaging in this misconduct for national security purposes, but political ones to stifle lawful criticism of the government. They are also doing this to get tips and scoops to build investigations around, in order to break cases and look groundbreaking and ahead of the curve before Congress, when they go to the legislature to seek billions of dollars in taxpayer money.

STORY SOURCE

Report: Justice Department targeted TWO Fox News Channel reporters and a producer for talking with government sources

PUBLISHED: 17:02 EST, 20 May 2013 | UPDATED: 19:04 EST, 20 May 2013 - Inspector General report found agents read emails, tracked phone records. Reporters James Rosen and William La Jeunesse, producer Mike Levine were the subject of subpoenas but never notified by the government. Fox News says U.S. journalism 'up until now has always been a free press'

The Fox News Channel is outraged over new revelations that three of its reporting staffers were targeted by the U.S. Department of Justice in criminal investigations related to their attempts to obtain information from government sources.

James Rosen, the network's chief Washington correspondent, has become a First Amendment cause celebre over his treatment by the Obama administration. But the DOJ, Fox says, also investigated the Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter William La Jeunesse and Fox News producer Mike Levine.

Shannon Bream (R) and Megyn Kelly (L) broke the news Monday that the DOJ had targeted three of their journalist colleagues in criminal investigations for seeking classified information from willing government sources...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk