(1)ith one of its reporters facing an imminent jail sentence, Time magazine said yesterday that it would provide documents concerning the reporter's confidential sources to a grand jury investigating the disclosure of the identity of a covert C.I.A. operative, Valerie Plame.
The magazine's decision to give in to the demands of federal prosecutors followed the Supreme Court's decision on Monday to reject appeals by the magazine and its reporter, Matthew Cooper, as well as a reporter for The New York Times, Judith Miller.
In an interview, Norman Pearlstine, Time Inc.'s editor in chief, said he had made the decision after much reflection. "I found myself really coming to the conclusion," Mr. Pearlstine said, "that once the Supreme Court has spoken in a case involving national security and a grand jury, we are not above the law and we have to behave the way ordinary citizens do."
....
"My hope," Mr. Pearlstine said, "is that the special counsel concludes that he does not need Matt's testimony and does not need his incarceration."
This whole story revolves around that last line. The special prosecuter has said that he does not need to get the names of the sources because he already has them. So why are they going to jail? What's going on here?!? This is really nuts.
Listen to Rachel Maddow lay it down:
EDIT: I was never able to make this function properly and so have removed it.
NOTE:
Quicktime May Be Necessary; Issues on IE. I'm working on these issues.
Sources:
(1)
Time Inc. to Yield Files on Sources, Relenting to U.S NY Times - July 1
(2)
Bush Recasts Message on Social Security LA Times - April 29
More:
Maddow Moments
