Former Staffer James A. Wolfe and NY
TIMES Reporter Ali Watkins
Something new in DC breaks as big news if not hourly or daily, then certainly weekly — cite this the latest scandal:
James A. Wolfe (former Senate Intel Committee staffer)
and Ali Watkins (NY Times reporter) – developing scandal vis-à-vis leaks two stories
related are here
(ABC TV affiliate) and here
(MRT Midland, TX from The AP) with
highlights below this headline (also from various other sources, too):
Veteran
of Senate Intel Committee Charged with Lying in Leak investigation
James A. Wolfe
arrested for leaks to reporters
Wolfe is a three-decade employee and longtime director
of security for the Senate Intelligence Committee — one of multiple
congressional panels investigating potential ties between Russia and the Trump
campaign. He has been indicted on three false statements to the FBI after
prosecutors say he misled agents about his relationships with reporters.
Though Wolfe is
not charged with disclosing classified information, prosecutors
say he was in regular contact with multiple journalists who covered the committee,
including meeting them at restaurants, in bars, private residences, and in a
Senate office building.
He is also accused of maintaining a year’s long
personal relationship with one reporter, which
prosecutors say he lied about until
being confronted with a photograph of him and the journalist.
Trump says: “The DOJ had caught a very important
leaker and said it could be a terrific thing” (also saying he was still getting
details on the case) concluding: “I'm a big, big believer in freedom of the
press, but I'm also a believer in classified
information. Has to remain classified.”
* Note for Mr. Trump: No classified info or documents are included in this case.
In a joint statement, the Senate
Intelligence Chairman Sen. Richard Burr
(R-NC) and Vice Chairman Sen. Mark Warner
(D-VA) said the news release: “While the charges
do not appear to include anything related to the mishandling of classified
information, the Committee takes this matter extremely seriously. We were made
aware of the investigation late last year, and have fully cooperated with the
Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice since then.”
They then concluded: “This news is disappointing, as the former
staffer in question served on the Committee for more than three decades, and in
the Armed Forces with distinction. However, we trust the justice system to act
appropriately and ensure due process as this case unfolds. This will in no way
interfere with our ongoing investigation, and the Committee remains committed
to carrying out our important work on behalf of the American people.”
Related: The NY
TIMES reported earlier that one of its reporters, Ali Watkins, had been
contacted by federal investigators about the inquiry into Wolfe. A prosecutor had
notified her that her email and phone records – but not the content of her
communications – were obtained.
The TIMES says Ms. Watkins denies receiving
classified information from Wolfe during their relationship.
Mark J. MacDougall, Ms.
Watkins’ lawyer in response to an inquiry from CNN said and concluded: “It's always disconcerting (disturbing)
when a journalist's telephone records are obtained by the Justice Department –
through a Grand Jury subpoena or other legal process. Whether it was really
necessary here will depend on the nature of the investigation and the scope of
any charges.”
A congressional source said the Senate panel was not
aware that the DOJ had seized a reporter's records when it passed a resolution before
this story broke to provide DOJ with documents tied to the investigation. Now
the case is likely to spur a robust discussion in the coming days ahead about
targeting the communications of journalists as lawmakers continue to demand
highly classified documents related to the Russia investigation. The DOJ’s media
policy dictates guidelines that investigators must follow before seeking a
reporter's records and files, etc.
My 2 Cents: A
serious charge of lying to Federal prosecutors is a crime for sure, and leaking
controlled, but not classified information is “rule-breaking” but perhaps,
under different conditions, not a crime but possibly a reason and cause for disciplinary
action or dismissal, but not jail time (at least in my view).
We shall see as
more develops – but boy watch the FOX crowd go nuts and run with this with one
purpose: continue to taint the whole Russian investigation anyway possible –
this adds to the Alex Jones conspiracy and Trump tweets about a “hoax and/or
Fake News.”
This is news they like but not enough to derail the outcome I
believe. Stay tuned.
Thanks for stopping by.
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