Lieberman: New York Times may be investigated for espionage

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Sen. Joe Lieberman has called for The New York Times to be investigated for espionage. The NYT was first among U.S. media to publish details of embarrassing diplomatic cables leaked to Wikileaks, allegedly by U.S. Army Pvt. Bradley Manning.

According to The Guardian:

5.15pm: Ramping up his rhetoric on Fox News just now, Senator Joe Lieberman, the head of the Senate's homeland security committee, suggests that the New York Times and other news organisations using the WikiLeaks cables may also be investigated for breaking the US's espionage laws.

Lieberman told Fox News: "To me the New York Times has committed at least an act of bad citizenship, but whether they have committed a crime is a matter of discussion for the justice department."

The NYT's Bill Keller sought the administration's approval for publishing the leaks beforehand. Is it editorial to suggest that it would seek to enjoy the control he offered it? Or that he signaled a position of weakness and dependency implicitly vulnerable to Joementum?

Photo: © Hyungwon Kang / Reuters