Big Brother

The Obama administration really wants to keep things secret.  Thus far, it has has brought six cases against people suspected of providing classified information, more than under all previous presidents combined.  Its latest affront to freedom is the seizure of two months of telephone records of AP reporters who worked on a story about the successful prevention of a plot by terrorists. 

Normally, the government informs the news organization that it wants phone records and they negotiate about it.  However, this Justice Department is above the law. It claims that AP's revealing anything about the plot "pose(s) a substantial threat to the integrity of the investigation" as to who revealed the information to AP.  

The AP had already delayed reporting the story at the request of government officials who said it would jeopardize national security. Once officials said those concerns were allayed, the AP disclosed the plot, though the Obama administration continued to request that the story be held until the administration could make an official announcement. 

I guess we should be thankful that the Justice Department informed AP of the seizure.  Perhaps, next time they won't.