Justice Dept. Probe of 'NYT' Spying Story Underscores Need for Shield Law

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Dalglish: Justice Dept. Probe of 'NYT' Spying Story Underscores Need for Shield Law

NEW YORK Lucy Dalglish, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, expressed outrage at the Justice Department investigation into who leaked classified information to The New York Times about the Bush administration's controversial domestic spying program, saying it is even more serious than the Valeria Plame probe.

"This is a much more of a classic whistleblower than the Plame case was and that is why the stakes are much higher," Dalglish said. "The public needed to know about it and that is a classic reason why reporters need to protect their sources and it is even more reason why there is a need to have a federal shield law."

Dalglish believes that the seriousness of this case could drive regular citizens to speak out against such investigations and push more for a federal source protection bill to be passed by Congress. "Hopefully the public will begin to understand," she said.

Times spokeswoman Catharine Mathis declined to comment on the Justice Department investigation and said no Times officials would be commenting. Executive Editor Bill Keller did not return calls seeking comment because, his office said, he was out on vacation.