CNBC’s John Harwood Calls on White House Staffer to Violate Law, Illegally Leak Trump-Putin Call
Apparently, propagandists in the so-called “mainstream media” think their First Amendment right to a free press gives them carte blanche to violate laws if it further erodes the Trump administration. On Friday, the Washington Free Beacon reported that John Harwood, a journalist for the New York Times and CNBC, called on a White House staffer to illegally leak a transcript of a potential call between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a tweet sent Thursday.
“Dear Leaker (you know who you are), please just send me transcript of Putin call. won’t bug you for any more. that’s only one I need,” he said, signing off with, “thx J.”
Dear Leaker (you know who you are),
please just send me transcript of Putin call. won't bug you for any more. that's only one I need.
thx J— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) August 3, 2017
The Free Beacon added:
Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?
The legality of requests such as Harwood’s has long been a matter of debate. The Supreme Court has upheld the right of media outlets to publish unsolicited, illegally obtained information in cases such as Bartnicki v. Vopper.
But it’s generally illegal to solicit someone to commit a crime. As NPR put it, “Ample legal precedent suggests a protection for journalists as long as they do not themselves break the law or encourage or direct others to do so.”
In 2013, the Obama Justice Department named Fox News reporter James Rosen an unindicted “criminal co-conspirator” on the theory that he solicited the classified information he published. No journalist has ever been prosecuted for solicitation.
Does the 1st Amendment grant the media immunity from prosecution for encouraging illegal behavior? https://t.co/FxQBr2sFwM
— Vancouver Osprey (@VancouverOsprey) August 3, 2017
Technically, as the Free Beacon explained, no.
Another person added:
It isn't a funny joke. Leaking a conversation between heads of state is breaking the law. Soliciting it is as well.
— James Hicks ???? Same on Parler (@Jhic709365) August 4, 2017
But who cares about something as trivial as the law these days? After all, look at what Hillary was allowed to get away with. And now we have an out-of-control special counsel doing everything he can to enact a coup against Trump over a media-driven conspiracy theory.
As a post at Weasel Zippers noted:
“Potentially a crime in and of itself. Is it not clear that some in media view themselves as the opposition? They don’t care about violating the law or endangering the United States in their quest to get Trump.”
H/T: TunnelWall
Related:
- Report: Top FBI lawyer allegedly under investigation for leaking classified info to media
- Reports: Scaramucci fires suspected leaker from White House
- James Comey — Leaker of Classified Information?
- James Woods warns of civil war if Democrats succeed in removing Trump
- Robert Mueller Impanels Grand Jury in Trump Russia Investigation
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