Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio thinks the federal government hasn’t protected the freedom of the press and wants to pass new legislation to help shield reporters.
Jordan admitted The Free Flow of Information Act already protects journalists from revealing sources or testifying in court, but said the the government wasn’t doing enough to honor it. (RELATED: GOP Rep. Jim Jordan Open To Running For Speaker Of The House)
“It is not supposed to work that way. That is not how the first Amendment operates,” Jordan said on CNN’s “New Day” Thursday. “My concern is we’ve seen so many encroachments on our liberties from the government. I was concerned when the IRS went after conservatives, tea party conservative groups out there and targeted them. I’m concerned about what I see from the FBI.”
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“We are looking to have hearings on this. We’re looking to get this passed and we’re picking up cosponsors every day,” he added.
Jordan also said he doesn’t support leaking classified information, but believes reporters should be immune from prosecution if they decide to publish the materials.
“The government should go wholeheartedly after people leaking information, especially if it’s classified,” he said. “Bring the full force of the government and the law on people who do that. But you cannot go after the reporter. That is — freedom of the press, freedom of speech, freedom to practice your faith. This is the First Amendment for goodness sake. So you cannot do that.”
“Go after the person who leaked. I’m all for that, but not the reporter,” Jordan concluded.
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