WASHINGTON — Trying to pass a radical measure aimed at protecting press freedom was defeated in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday night.
The Journalism Shield Act, which would limit the federal government’s ability to force disclosure of journalists’ sources, has faced fierce opposition from President-elect Donald Trump, who has a somewhat rocky relationship with the press.
Arkansas GOP Sen. Tom Cotton blocked Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden’s request for unanimous consent to pass the billcalling the legislation “a threat to the national security of the United States and an affront to basic justice in the principle of equality under the law.”
Although the U.S. House of Representatives passed his version of the bill in a voice vote earlier this year, Trump passed it in November – urged Republicans in Congress “I have to kill this bill.”
Reaching unanimous consent — a process intended to speed passage of bills in the Senate — seemed extremely unlikely given Trump’s influence in the Senate GOP conference.
Cotton, who will be chairman of the Senate Republican conference, said the measure would “transform reporters into a protected class — free to store, share and publish top secret and dangerous information that no other American is permitted to possess.”
He also said the bill would turn the Senate “into an active accomplice of deep state leakers, traitors and criminals, along with the America-hating and fame-hungry journalists who helped them.”
Bipartisan support
Wyden introduced companion legislation to the House bill in June 2023. GOP Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, along with Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, co-sponsored the bill.
Wyden called the bill “so common sense” and said previous administrations on both sides “have exploited the lack of a federal shield law to restrict press freedom and, in some cases, even imprison journalists who did not want to break the rules of journalism.” ethics and reveal their sources.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has expressed mighty support for the bill and his desire to get it to the president’s desk.
“No democracy can survive without a free, open and thriving press,” Schumer said on the Senate floor.
Legislation yes create “appropriate restrictions on federally mandatory disclosure of information obtained in the course of journalistic activities” and would limit federal law enforcement oversight of journalists.
Dozens news media organizations and press groups pushed for the bill’s passage, and press rights groups expressed concerns about Trump’s impending return to the Oval Office amid the crisis threats he makes against journalists.
Last updated at 18:50, December 10, 2024
