Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada, the authors of Game of Shadows, have been ordered by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White to reveal who leaked Barry Bonds’ (and others) grand jury testimony to them. They have won the right to appeal that decision before going to jail to keep their source a secret.
In his order, White said his hands were tied by a 1972 Supreme Court precedent that said no one, journalists included, was above the law and may refuse to testify before a federal grand jury.
The case is United States v. Fainaru-Wada, 06-90225.
I do not know enough about this specific situation to really take sides. Whoever did leak that information deserves to be tried, but I respect Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada right to protect their sources. I am curious what the appeals court is going to decide.
(Source: ESPN.com)
They have the right to choose, and as by all people, they must accept the consequences of their actions. I applaud their desire to keep their source secret, but I doubt it will last long once they are in the pen.
I agree with you Wes that they have to face the consequences of their actions, and I will also respect them if they do keep their mouths shut and go to jail.
My question, as poorly worded as it was, was more along the lines of should the judge have the power to issue the ultimatum in the first place? I thought that journalists had protections for their sources in place.
Again, I am not really sure on the specifics so I do not know what the precedent mentioned in the article was or anything of that sort.