FBI to KNS: Don’t go being too transparent
Seen at The KNS:
“In the current case involving threatening communications made to attorneys representing a defendant in the Christian-Newsom murder trial, the FBI’s investigation into this matter was recently and prematurely exposed. In addition, the News Sentinel revealed yesterday the precise subject matter of a federal grand jury subpoena it received concerning this crime, citing the “newsworthiness” of this development and the absence of an explanation by the FBI as to why the subpoena’s secrecy was important.
“While the News Sentinel’s disclosure may indeed serve “the interest of transparency,” the revelations made to date may also provide the person or persons who committed the crime with the strategic knowledge necessary to now successfully frustrate this important investigation. This is the reason the United States Attorney’s Office asked the News
Sentinel not to disclose the issuance or substance of the subpoena.”
October 30th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Not exactly a law and order kind of guy. What is so hypocritical is that McElroy was furious about the death threats to Trant and Eldridge. Just not furious enough to help the FBI catch the perps. Guess it is more important to sell papers.
October 30th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Then why didn’t the FBI/US Atty say so? Do they think we’ll just bend over and obey them for any reason?
I think not.
October 30th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Then why didn’t the FBI/US Atty say so?
Actually the FBI did say so.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/oct/27/fbi-widens-death-threats-probe-subpoenas-kns-onlin/
Editor McElroy felt their explanation wasn’t good enough to suppress the story until the perps could be caught. He blamed the people who were threatened for the story getting out.
So if you were the person who had the death threats, would you be happy Editor McElroy didn’t cooperate with the FBI? There is much less chance now of an arrest thanks to McElroy.
Will Editor McElroy print on the front page the FBI’s strongly worded rebuke of him? Or will he hide it on his blog like a coward? If you want to sell some newspapers Mr. McElroy, now you have your opportunity. Print the FBI letter.
Just curious Crucis, do you know anything about McElroy, or was your comment just a general comment on the FBI? McElroy is a Bloomberg anti-gun supporter and is as anti-self defense as they come. He doesn’t believe in the 2nd Amendment.
As managing editor of the Rocky Mountain News, McElroy helped lead the newspaper’s coverage of the 1998 Columbine High School shooting tragedy in suburban Denver. The Rocky’s Columbine coverage led to a Pulitzer Prize for spot news photography and a host of other honors, including National Headliners awards for spot news reporting and awards for deadline reporting and spot news photography from the Society of Professional Journalists.
October 31st, 2009 at 12:42 am
Color me clueless, but unless the perp lives in another state, why would the feds be involved? If state lines are not crossed, it seems this should be a case for the local cops.
And is anyone investigating the death threats against the Christian and Newsome families? Not that I’ve heard of.
October 31st, 2009 at 9:54 am
Color me clueless, but unless the perp lives in another state, why would the feds be involved?
Good question, I wondered the same thing. The story has been dead ended at the KNS because it makes the editor look bad. My guess is there will be no arrest.
October 31st, 2009 at 10:02 am
Wait, what?
Do they think the suspect (not perps damnit, SUSPECT, say it with now, innocent until proven guilty.) is going to flee the country or some how destroy evidence? The comment was already “removed”, and chances are any local copy on the suspects (not perps) computer is long gone.
So what purpose would secrecy serve? Does the suspect perhaps not know that they made a threat? The suspect was already banned by web site.
I would have published it too. There’s no legitimate reason to keep it secret that I can figure out. Except that the government wants to keep all investigations in the dark, and secret investigations tend to lead to bad consequences for a free society.
October 31st, 2009 at 1:06 pm
I would have published it too.
The newspaper tipped the suspects and the evidence may have be destroyed. Hence, no arrest. I know hating the FBI is in vogue, but it was a stupid thing for the newspaper to do. The paper told the suspects what was in the subpoena. Which the FBI specifically ask them not to do.
But the bigger story is that the newspaper has buried the FBI’s letter to the editor Jack McElroy that did this. Why is it that story is not on the front page? Why is it not in the paper version of the newspaper anywhere? So you still want to defend the newspaper? Are you suggesting they can have it both ways?