Leak Investigation Ordered (AIPAC) [View All]

[TomInTib]

Leak Investigation Ordered
How Media Learned About Probe of Pro-Israel Lobbyists Sought

By Jerry Markon
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 23, 2006; A04



A federal judge has ordered an investigation into how reporters learned that two pro-Israel lobbyists were under federal investigation before they were formally charged, creating even more scrutiny of the media in a case with broad First Amendment implications.

The order by U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III in Alexandria came in the case against Steven J. Rosen and Keith Weissman, who are charged with receiving and disseminating national defense information. Legal experts say the case could lead to criminal prosecutions of reporters or newspapers that print information the government has classified.

In an entry on the docket in U.S. District Court, Ellis ordered the Justice Department to conduct a leak investigation into whether government employees disclosed details of the investigation to CBS News in 2004. The docket entry was dated last week, but Ellis further explained it in a previously classified order made public yesterday.

In that order, Ellis denied defense requests to throw out much of the evidence against Rosen and Weissman, partly because of leaks to the media, but said defense attorneys could renew their motion later if the leak investigation results "warrant doing so."

And awaaay we go!:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/22/AR2006082201302_pf.html