Google and Verizon Gave Government Reporters' Records

[mystery-ak]

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2013/05/20/Google-And-Verizon-Gave-Government-Reporters-Records

 by Wynton Hall 20 May 2013, 4:33 PM PDT

Google and Verizon Wireless reportedly gave government officials reporters’ private email and phone records as part of the Department of Justice’s seizure of journalists’ communications.

According to the New York Times, two reporters’ personal cellphone records “were provided to the government by Verizon Wireless without any attempt to obtain permission to tell them so the reporters could ask a court to quash the subpoena.”

Google reportedly turned over to the Obama Justice Department private emails belonging to Fox News reporter James Rosen, who was named “an aider and abettor and/or co-conspirator” for his reporting on North Korea.

Google and Verizon employees have donated heavily to President Barack Obama.

In 2012, Verizon employees donated $223,491 to Obama versus $144,300 to GOP challenger Mitt Romney. Google employees were even more generous, giving $801,770 to Obama versus just $39,539 to Romney.

[ABX]

The problem I have with the line of this story is if these companies were issued subpoenas, they would have no choice but to turn over the records.

These companies shouldn't be the story (unless they gave it without a subpoena). Who signed the subpoenas?

[Rapunzel]

The problem I have with the line of this story is if these companies were issued subpoenas, they would have no choice but to turn over the records.

These companies shouldn't be the story (unless they gave it without a subpoena). Who signed the subpoenas?

Judge Napolitano discussed this at length on the noon-hour Shep Smith Studio B.. he said under the rulings from the Supreme Court these subpoena's have to be issued under a very narrow criteria and he suspects justice lied to get them... and was why in their subpoena they said it was a "criminal" matter - because that is the ONLY way it could have been issued.

[ABX]

Judge Napolitano discussed this at length on the noon-hour Shep Smith Studio B.. he said under the rulings from the Supreme Court these subpoena's have to be issued under a very narrow criteria and he suspects justice lied to get them... and was why in their subpoena they said it was a "criminal" matter - because that is the ONLY way it could have been issued.

Which basically confirms that Google and Verizon had no choice but to comply and they couldn't even question it.

[Rapunzel]

Which basically confirms that Google and Verizon had no choice but to comply and they couldn't even question it.

Exactly.  If the government had not lied they would not have received permission in the first place, and this is what has Fox News all upset, because the way the law is written they should have been notified and able to go before the judge to argue to quash the subpoena or at the very least limit the scope - the government knew this so they lied to keep the Fox lawyers out of it.

[ABX]

Someone up top probably wants the people's anger directed at these companies instead of the administration. Distraction.

[Rapunzel]

yep.   ... it isn't the carrot dangling in front of your eyes to worry about .. it is the carrot they are trying to keep buried.