White House Accused of Intimidating Media, Lawyers

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A leading American lawyer accused the White House on Friday of intimidating reporters, attorneys and judges who question the Bush administration's "relentless pursuit of power."

The lawyer, Michael Tigar, made his comments during a pre-trial hearing involving his client Lynne Stewart, a civil rights lawyer charged in a terrorism case. The hearing centered on arguments by news organizations hoping to quash government subpoenas aimed at forcing reporters to testify at the trial.

Giving his support to news organizations, Tigar said that even in the best of times, the "independent voice" of the media and lawyers was always in danger.

"But these are not the best of times. Under the Bush/Ashcroft/Rumsfeld administration, the independent press and the independent bar have been in particular danger," Tigar said in an impassioned voice.

http://news1.iwon.com/politics/article/id/410088|politics|06-18-2004::15:46|reuters.html