Matt Escapes Jail, Judy Already Getting Prison Tats
So here we are at the penultimate act of the Matt and Judy show. TIME has agreed to turn over documents relating to the Plame leak; in a statement TIME editor-in-chief Norman Perstine gave us a nifty civics lesson. "The same Constitution that protects the freedom of the press requires obedience to final decisions of the courts and respect for their rulings and judgments." Yes, and that same Constitution also allows special prosecutors to gouge the parent company of recalcitrant employees with hefty fines "that would be meaningful for the company's 'size and net income,'" a chapter of the textbook that we're sure Norm's read, even if he doesn't include it in his memo.
For their part, the NYT is playing hardball, boldly refusing to give in. Responding to TIME, publisher Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. is personally "deeply disappointed" in the and boasts that the NYT has resisted subpoenaslots. Both ways! In the snow! Which is especially easy in this case, since the Times is not named in the order, just Judith Miller. And if she has to go to jail? So what?
We faced similar pressures in 1978 when both our reporter Myron Farber and the Times Company were held in contempt of court for refusing to provide the names of confidential sources. Mr. Farber served 40 days in jail and we were forced to pay significant fines.
Adds Sulzberger, "Our focus is now on our own reporter, Judith Miller, and in supporting her during this difficult time." In other words, "Six months of box-chomping seems a small price to pay so that we can adhere to our principles."— WONKETTE
TIME Inc. Caves [Gawker]