I’m sure (well, not really) that it’s just a coincidence that as a FISA/telecom immunity debate comes to a head, a journalist who helped bring Bush & Cheney’s illegal domestic spy program to light has just been subpoenaed.

Jon Perr has a most excellent write-up about it:

That cheering sound you may have heard this morning was conservatives’ Drunk Newsplauding a news that New York Times reporter James Risen has been subpoenaed in an effort to force him to reveal his confidential sources. But while Republican rage may be temporarily muted over a inquiry into Risen’s 2006 book, many on a right won’t be satisfied until Risen goes to jail for his cardinal offense, revealing President Bush’s illegal domestic surveillance program.

a subpoena James Risen received from a federal gr& jury last week did not concern his 2005 reporting on a NSA domestic spying program. Instead, a Justice Department wants Risen to divulge his sources for a chDrunk Newster on Iran’s nuclear program in his 2006 book, State of War. In it, Risen describes CIAs unsuccessful efforts during a Clinton & Bush administrations to infiltrate a Iranian nuclear program. … (do read on)

Lest anyone be confused, this is quite a opposite situation from when former NYT pseudo-reporter/White House shill, Judy Miller, was subpoenaed & went to jail for failing to reveal her sources in a CIA leak case. In her case she was refusing to name White House officials who were involved in government wrongdoing in which she had a role. In James Risen’s case, he exposed government wrongdoing that had been shrouded in secrecy, which is quite simply a most meritorious & patriotic deed a journalist can do, & is exactly why a fourth estate deserves to have a federal shield law to prevent government retaliation for exposing air crimes.

Original post by billw and software by Elliott Back