05-14-2013, 06:17 PM
Since the stories were about CIA the Justice Department probably went to a FISA court. Very dicey in my opinion.
I know quite a few national reporters who use their personal cell phones to make some calls, and I know one who has had so many Boost phones in the last couple of years it's not funny. He's a little on the tinfoil beanie side, though maybe he has reason for the paranoia.
There is no shield law, and given the atmosphere in which we are all operating these days, there probably never will be. If you are going to protect a source you have to be willing to go to jail. That's part of the business for some people, and reporters who don't want to take the risk should stay in features.
It used to be that the FBI informed you if you were caught on a wiretap, but no more. That was an effect of the Patriot Act.
I know quite a few national reporters who use their personal cell phones to make some calls, and I know one who has had so many Boost phones in the last couple of years it's not funny. He's a little on the tinfoil beanie side, though maybe he has reason for the paranoia.
There is no shield law, and given the atmosphere in which we are all operating these days, there probably never will be. If you are going to protect a source you have to be willing to go to jail. That's part of the business for some people, and reporters who don't want to take the risk should stay in features.
It used to be that the FBI informed you if you were caught on a wiretap, but no more. That was an effect of the Patriot Act.