More Subpoenas Coming for Journos?

Wasting no time in piggy-backing onto the Matthew Cooper/Judith Miller legal case this week, former Army scientist Steven J. Hatfill–whom you might remember from such federal investigations as the 2001 anthrax case–is arguing in court that he should be able to compel journalists to testify on his behalf.

The Washington Post reports today that Hatfill wants to use Tuesday’s ruling saying that journalists have no First Amendment shield to protect confidential sources to help him win his 2003 defamation suit against John Ashcroft, the FBI, and the Justice Department. Specifically, he wants to compel journalists to explain where and from whom they received leaks about the FBI’s interest in him.

Hmm. Did we miss the press release announcing that it’s officially open season on the press?

MEDIABISTRO EVENTS

Launch a Successful Social Media Campaign

Join Baratunde Thurston (left), The Onion’s Director of Digital and author of How to Be Black, for an entertaining look at creative social media campaigns in our Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting this Thursday, February 16. Other speakers include Morin Oluwole (Facebook), Michael Brito (Edelman Digital), and Tim Devane (bitly). Register now.