The TV news group calls the Justice Department action of secretly obtaining the AP phone records an "unprecedented invasion of privacy" and "a blatant violation of basic rights afforded by the First Amendment."
RTDNA Slams DOJ For AP Records Grab
The Radio Television Digital News Association today blasted the Department of Justice after it acknowledged that it had secretly obtained the telephone records of reporters and editors of the Associated Press, possibly in connection with an investigation into a leak of classified information to the AP last year.
“This unprecedented invasion of privacy involving confidential information is a blatant violation of basic rights afforded by the First Amendment,” said Vincent Duffy, chairman of the Radio Television Digital News Association.
“This action is unwarranted and absolutely strikes at the heart of the press freedoms we cherish in the United States. These critical freedoms are protected by both the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights and have clearly been thrust aside by the federal government through this action,” Duffy said.
RTDNA said it is working closely with other media groups to seek more information from the DOJ on the seizure of the records.
Comments (2)
Gregg Palermo says:
May 14, 2013 at 9:38 am
Elections have consequences. For whom do you think most RTNDA members voted in the past two Presidential elections? The wheels are coming off government (Benghazi, IRS, etc.) and Obama keeps pretending he is above it all. It’s always someone else and the buck never stops in his office.
Ellen Samrock says:
May 14, 2013 at 10:23 am
And so ends the press’ love affair with the Obama Administration. It was just a matter of time.