Documents filed in the indictment of Mr. Wolfe suggested that prosecutors were especially interested in a scoop by Ms. Watkins published in BuzzFeed in April last year. The article revealed that Russian spies had tried to recruit Carter Page, a former Trump adviser, in 2013
He added that he was “baffled” by the Justice Department’s aggressive action against Ms. Watkins, given that Mr. Page had confirmed the information in the article.
Obtaining a journalist’s data without permission is considered by First Amendment advocates to be a highly aggressive form of government intrusion. “This should be a grave concern to anyone who cares about an informed citizenry.”
The Committee to Protect Journalists called the move “a fundamental threat to press freedom.” The Times, in its own statement, called the seizure “an outrageous overreach” and raised concerns about a chilling effect on journalists’ ability to report on the government.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/08/...column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
He added that he was “baffled” by the Justice Department’s aggressive action against Ms. Watkins, given that Mr. Page had confirmed the information in the article.
Obtaining a journalist’s data without permission is considered by First Amendment advocates to be a highly aggressive form of government intrusion. “This should be a grave concern to anyone who cares about an informed citizenry.”
The Committee to Protect Journalists called the move “a fundamental threat to press freedom.” The Times, in its own statement, called the seizure “an outrageous overreach” and raised concerns about a chilling effect on journalists’ ability to report on the government.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/08/...column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news