Holder: We'll Prosecute over WikiLeak Release

Attorney General Eric Holder says the Justice Department will prosecute if violations of U.S. law are uncovered in a criminal probe into the leaks of classified government documents by online whistle-blower WikiLeaks.

Holder says he condemns the disclosures as having put the nation's security at risk as well as the safety of diplomats and other U.S. government personnel.

The attorney general made the comments to reporters at a news conference on another topic.

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Worldwatch: Diplomatic Shockers

"We have an active, ongoing criminal investigation with regard to this matter," Holder said. "We are not in a position as yet to announce the result of that investigation, but the investigation is ongoing."

"I think there's a real basis, there's a predicate for us to believe that crimes have been committed here and we are in the process of investigating those crimes," he said.

Holder seemed to praise journalists who show restraint by essentially seeking government permission before disclosing anything of importance - and to criticize the outlets that facilitated WikiLeaks' unsanctioned release.

"Members of the press, people who come into possession of this information, I think - hope -would act in a responsible manner," Holder said. "I think that has clearly not happened here. And there are consequences, real consequences."

Links to Leaked Cables:

Cables Shine Light Into Secret Diplomatic Channels (NYT)
The US Embassy Cable (Guardian)
A Superpower's View of the World (Spiegel, in English)
Los papeles del Departamento de Estado (El Pais)

[liberalme]

This information goes over pretty much of the BUSH/CHENEY reign---I would LOVE to know everything that went on!!! Then press charges coward Pelosi!!!!

[documemts]

Holder: "...we'll prosecute WikiLeaks", soon as we get finished readin'em.

[TJphoto]

Hey Eric, Why is OK for the Government to hide its lies from us (the electorate) but not OK for us to hide ours from our Government???? Please explain.

[stevador39]

The only reason a government needs to operate in secret is that it is committing crimes. The Obama regime is a criminal regime.

[GTR5]

Yes, all Assange needs to do now is to join the Black Panthers and he is scot free.

[stevador39]

Democracies do not need to operate in secret. Secret governments are not democractic. Holder won't prosecute illegal aliens but he will prosecute the release information that citizens of free countries should have. Holder is a criminal.

[noloyalisti]

This is what one would expect from a big corporation-loving pawn of imperialist America. Go after the messenger, not the actual criminals. How arrogant and twisted we have become. There is no longer any truth or impartial thinking. If big corporations lie, cheat, start wars, murder or are rich, they can do no harm. If they are Americans. Bah Humbug

[nottblu]

blah, blah, blah, repeat, repeat, repeat, false conjecture, false conjecture, false conjecture, simplistic, simplistic, simplistic, hate, hate, hate, spew, spew, spew, blather, blather, blather, tiresome, tiresome, tiresome. Always the same false crapp over and over again. Fortunately it doesn't make any of it true.

[jeffinpa1234]

Boy I sure hope the whistler blower is also not a Black Panther! Otherwise Mr. Holder will have a huge problem with this vow to prosecute the leaker!!