September 21, 2006
Not in Jail Just Yet
The two reporters who authored Game of Shadows are a step closer to jail tonight:
Federal prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White to send the reporters to prison for the full term of the grand jury investigating the leak, or until they agree to testify. Both sides agreed to stay the ruling pending an appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
"The court is hopeful that perhaps they'll reconsider their position when faced with the reality of incarceration," White said Thursday.
Williams and Fainaru-Wada have said repeatedly they would go to jail rather than comply with the grand jury's subpoena and reveal their source or sources.
I find this case fascinating. The reporters don't want to revel their sources because no one will talk to them otherwise. The government wants to stop leaks for much the same reason. In order to get citizens to testify, the government might need to convince them their testimony is private. Leaks like this hurt the government when they try to get such testimony in the future.
But of course, the most interesting aspect of the whole BALCO scandal is that everyone goes to jail except the subject of the probe, Barry Bonds.
Posted by David Pinto at
11:17 PM
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Cheating
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