Citing National Security, US Attorney General Holder Defends Justice Department's Seizure Of AP Phone Records

US Attorney General Defends AP Seizure Citing Major Security Threat To Public -- The Guardian

Eric Holder says story related to subpoena of phone records was 'very, very serious' while Obama faces scrutiny on press rights

The US attorney general, Eric Holder, has defended the Obama administration's controversial seizure of phone records from the Associated Press, saying that a story run by the news organisation had posed a major security threat to the American public.

Holder, speaking at a press conference at the Department of Justice on Tuesday, said an AP story published last year about an alleged Yemeni terrorist plot to blow up a US plane was the result of "a very, very serious leak" that justified "very aggressive action".

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More News On US Attorney General Holder Defending The Justice Department's Seizure Of AP Phone Records

Justice official defends AP phone records subpoenas -- CNN
Eric Holder blasts IRS scandal, defends seizure of Associated Press phone records -- New York Daily News
US defends seizure of reporters' phone logs -- AFP
US Attorney General Defends Leak Probe -- Voice of America
Attorney General Holder pleads ignorance on AP snooping scandal, defends record on civil liberties -- Washington Times
Holder says leak prompting AP subpoena was very serious -- Reuters
Eric Holder says leak to AP was 'very serious' -- BBC
DOJ: Government Exhausted Other Efforts Before Issuing Subpoena for AP Phone Records -- Wall Street Journal
Holder: I wasn't involved in AP secret phone probe -- CBS/AP
Attorney General Holder recused himself from media subpoena -- Reuters
Holder recused himself from leak investigation, Justice Department says -- Washington Post

My Comment: Would the media have reacted the same way if someone like President George Bush did this under his watch .... I doubt it. As a consequence .... the media's lack of outrage on the AP story is disturbing for the simple reason that it now sets a precedent for future leak investigations .... and how the government will conduct itself.