Fearful that his presidency could be swept into the same historical dustbin as Richard Nixon’s, an unrepentant President George W. Bush seems intent on prosecuting the sources who leaked the details of his administration’s warrantless domestic spying, according to an article by Harvey Silvergate to appear in the Jan. 6 issue of the alternative weekly the Boston Phoenix.

A variety of federal statutes, from the Espionage Act on down, give Bush ample means to prosecute the New York Times reporters who got the scoop, as well as the editors, Slivergate says. Even Executive Editor Bill Keller and Publisher Arthur “Pinch” Sulzberger Jr., could become targets - a startling possibility, just the threat of which would serve as a deterrent to the entire Fourth Estate….

If Bush goes after the Times, he could spark a conflagration potentially more destructive to a free press - or to his administration - than Nixon’s 1971 Pentagon Papers machinations…

Full Boston Phoenix story

Tags: Domestic Surveillance

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