Congressman Wants To Prosecute Journalists For Reporting Classified Material

ThinkProgress

Rep. Peter King (R-NY) wasn’t the only conservative member of Congress to call National Security Administration contractor Edward Snowden a “traitor” for revealing confidential information about the scope of government surveillance. But King was the first to add that journalists who report on this material should also be criminally prosecuted on CNN’s “AC 360” Tuesday night:

ANDERSON COOPER: As far as reporters who helped reveal these programs, do you believe something should happen to them? Do you believe they should be punished as well?

KING: Actually, if they willingly knew that this was classified information, I think actions should be taken, especially on something of this magnitude. I know the whole issue of leaks has been gone into over the last month. But I think on something of this magnitude, there is an obligation both moral but also legal I believe against a reporter disclosing something which would so severely compromise national security. As a practical matter, I guess there have been a number of reporters who have been prosecuted under it. So the answer is yes to your question.