Reporters to defy order on disclosing sources

Amid concerns that journalists’ rights may be under attack, the first of three reporters from major US media outlets will defy on Wedne...

Amid concerns that journalists’ rights may be under attack, the first of three reporters from major US media outlets will defy on Wednesday an order by a federal judge to disclose their sources in an unfounded espionage case, their lawyers said.

Journalists from The Associated Press, the Los Angeles Times and a former CNN reporter have been subpoenaed by Wen Ho Lee, a scientist once suspected of spying. Lee, who was never charged with espionage, has filed a lawsuit against the government, accusing officials of violating his privacy by leaking personal employment records to reporters.

Lawyers for the AP’s Josef Hebert, the LA Times’ Robert Drogin and former CNN reporter P. Thomas told Reuters their clients would ‘‘honour their commitments to their sources’’ in their depositions, which come less than a month after two New York Times reporters defied an order in the same case by US District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson to disclose the sources.

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The first deposition was scheduled for later on Wednesday, with two more the next day, the lawyers said. By refusing to heed Jackson’s order, the reporters could be found in contempt of court and punished with jail terms or ‘‘indefinite fines’’ until they comply. Jackson earlier denied the journalists’ motions to quash the subpoenas, ordering them to give depositions disclosing the identity of their sources.

Lawyers and media advocacy groups say the reporters’ refusal to obey the judge could set an important precedent for journalististic privilege, which they say is guaranteed by First Amendment right of freedom of the Press. Some fear the privilege is at risk, pointing to several cases in recent months in which judges have denied reporters the right to keep sources secret. —(Reuters)

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