Garland Formally Bars Justice Dept. From Seizing Reporters’ Records

[Magnus]

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department on Wednesday formally banned the use of subpoenas, warrants or court orders to seize reporters’ communications records or demand their notes or testimony in an effort to uncover confidential sources in leak investigations, in what amounts to a major policy shift.

The rules institutionalize — and in places expand — a temporary policy that Attorney General Merrick B. Garland put in place in July 2021, after the revelation that the Justice Department, under Attorney General William P. Barr, had secretly pursued email records of reporters at The New York Times, The Washington Post and CNN.

After the scope of the Trump-era tactics against major news outlets came to light, Mr. Biden vowed to ban the practice. In apparent off-the-cuff remarks, he described it as “simply, simply wrong,” leading to Mr. Garland’s memo in July 2021. The codification of the changes will make it harder for a future administration to roll it back.

Garland Formally Bars Justice Dept. From Seizing Reporters’ Records (Published 2022)

The rule codifies and expands a policy he issued in 2021, after it came to light that the Trump administration had secretly gone after records of reporters for The Times, The Washington Post and CNN.

www.nytimes.com

 

[progressive hunter]

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department on Wednesday formally banned the use of subpoenas, warrants or court orders to seize reporters’ communications records or demand their notes or testimony in an effort to uncover confidential sources in leak investigations, in what amounts to a major policy shift.

The rules institutionalize — and in places expand — a temporary policy that Attorney General Merrick B. Garland put in place in July 2021, after the revelation that the Justice Department, under Attorney General William P. Barr, had secretly pursued email records of reporters at The New York Times, The Washington Post and CNN.

After the scope of the Trump-era tactics against major news outlets came to light, Mr. Biden vowed to ban the practice. In apparent off-the-cuff remarks, he described it as “simply, simply wrong,” leading to Mr. Garland’s memo in July 2021. The codification of the changes will make it harder for a future administration to roll it back.

Garland Formally Bars Justice Dept. From Seizing Reporters’ Records (Published 2022)

The rule codifies and expands a policy he issued in 2021, after it came to light that the Trump administration had secretly gone after records of reporters for The Times, The Washington Post and CNN.

www.nytimes.com

little late if you ask me,,,

FBI raid on Project Veritas founder’s home sparks questions about press freedom

The action against James O’Keefe has prompted concern about the Biden administration’s commitment to the First Amendment.

www.politico.com

 

[1srelluc]

Oh and they made sure the NYT got hold of it to try to make a big deal of it two weeks before the midterms.

That's the thing with the "info-age"..... Nobody is buying that type of move for anything but for what it is.

 

[blackhawk]

Seem to remember the DOJ under Obama doing the same type of things to some of the reporters at the AP and James Rosen who was working at FOX News at the time.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

The codification of the changes will make it harder for a future administration to roll it back.

But the next neo-fascist authoritarian Republican administration will certainly try.

 

[scruffy]

Seem to remember the DOJ under Obama doing the same type of things to some of the reporters at the AP and James Rosen who was working at FOX News at the time.

Sharyl Atkisson

 

[Gabe Lackmann]

the entire system is rigged.

post-vote culture.

 

[Independent thinker]

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department on Wednesday formally banned the use of subpoenas, warrants or court orders to seize reporters’ communications records or demand their notes or testimony in an effort to uncover confidential sources in leak investigations, in what amounts to a major policy shift.

The rules institutionalize — and in places expand — a temporary policy that Attorney General Merrick B. Garland put in place in July 2021, after the revelation that the Justice Department, under Attorney General William P. Barr, had secretly pursued email records of reporters at The New York Times, The Washington Post and CNN.

After the scope of the Trump-era tactics against major news outlets came to light, Mr. Biden vowed to ban the practice. In apparent off-the-cuff remarks, he described it as “simply, simply wrong,” leading to Mr. Garland’s memo in July 2021. The codification of the changes will make it harder for a future administration to roll it back.

Garland Formally Bars Justice Dept. From Seizing Reporters’ Records (Published 2022)

The rule codifies and expands a policy he issued in 2021, after it came to light that the Trump administration had secretly gone after records of reporters for The Times, The Washington Post and CNN.

www.nytimes.com

Yup, do it all to Trump, but not reporters. Par for the course for the blue team.

 

[whitehall]

What do you know, it only took Garland two years to re read the 1st Amendment just in time for the mid terms.

 

[White 6]

Oh and they made sure the NYT got hold of it to try to make a big deal of it two weeks before the midterms.

That's the thing with the "info-age"..... Nobody is buying that type of move for anything but for what it is.

Buy it for a good move, even if it is two weeks before an election. Who knows? It could be one they regret later in the administration if Team Biden starts leaking like a sieve, as the Team Trump white house did, but it is a good move protecting freedom of the press, to keep their confidential sources, so we hear what goes on, when it is important, and don't have to wait for the books from the disgruntled to come out, mostly after damage done.

 

[Polishprince]

Garland himself is the leaker. The Garland DOJ selectively leaks tidbits designed to elevate their partisan needs.

Of course the AG is going to protect the leaker, considering the fact its him.

 

[Magnus]

Oh and they made sure the NYT got hold of it to try to make a big deal of it two weeks before the midterms.

That's the thing with the "info-age"..... Nobody is buying that type of move for anything but for what it is.

You missed this line, didn't you?

The rules institutionalize — and in places expand — a temporary policy that Attorney General Merrick B. Garland put in place in July 2021,

It has been there for a while. He just made it permanent.