Abbott joins 40 other attorneys general in supporting reporter's privilege

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has joined 40 other state attorneys general in support of a federal law providing a journalist’s privilege.

The National Association of Attorneys General is urging the U.S. Senate to pass the bill and recently asked its members to get on board with the legislation.

Last fall, the House of Representatives passed shield legislation (HR 2101) by a 398-21 vote, and the Senate version (S 2035) was passed by the Judiciary Committee 15-4. But supporters in the Senate have been unable to schedule a floor vote.

Reporters in 49 states and the District of Columbia are protected by statute or legal precedent from being forced to reveal confidential sources, but the federal courts do not recognize this privilege and have become increasingly aggressive in attempting to force journalists to identify sources. Judges have resorted to lengthy jail terms and large fines; recently a federal judge ordered former USA Today reporter Toni Locy to personally pay contempt fines up to $5,000 a day for refusing to reveal sources in Dr. Steven Hatfill’s Privacy Act lawsuit against the federal government, an order stayed pending an appeal hearing.

“Fortunately, such actions have helped build widespread nonpartisan support for shield legislation, and both major-party presidential candidates have publicly supported the bill that we’re trying to bring to a Senate vote,” said David Ledford, president of the Associated Press Managing Editors.

On June 30, Abbott wrote to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., supporting legislation creating a reporter’s privilege. Read the letter on the Texas Attorney General's Web site.