Notable Quotes: CIA Leak Case

The following are quotes from key players in the legal battle over the source who revealed the name of an undercover CIA agent.

"I do not make confidentiality pledges lightly, but when I do I must honor them." — New York Times reporter Judith Miller, to U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan.

———

"There is still a realistic possibility that confinement might cause her to testify" — Hogan, speaking of Miller before she left for jail.

———

"We are trying to get to the bottom of whether a crime was committed and by whom." — U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who has pressured Miller and Time Magazine reporter Matthew Cooper to reveal confidential sources.

———

"This is a sad day not only for journalists but for our country. It's a sad time when two journalists who are simply doing their jobs, trying to keep confidences and report important stories face the prospect of going to prison for keeping those confidences." — Cooper, after Miller went to jail.

———

"There are times when the greater good of our democracy demands an act of conscience. Judy has chosen such an act in honoring her promise of confidentiality to her sources. She believes, as do we, that the free flow of information is critical to an informed citizenry." — Arthur Sulzberger Jr., publisher of The New York Times.

———

"I think what Time did was an honest decision made after honest reflection and probably a great deal of agonizing. But I think it was wrong." — Bill Keller, executive editor of The New York Times, referring to Time magazine's decision to turn over Cooper's notes.

———

"Judy is an honorable woman, adhering to the highest tradition of her profession and the highest tradition of humanity." — Floyd Abrams, Miller's lawyer.

———

"If reporters can be used as information pipelines to government authorities, that will chill their ability to do their jobs and it could, in some circumstances, put them in harm's way. This action imperils not only the press, but the rights of ordinary citizens." — Jeff Bruce, editor of the Dayton Daily News.

———

"In the end, the public is the big loser when we can't get the information out." — Allie Shah, Minneapolis Star-Tribune education reporter at a demonstration in support of Miller and Cooper.

———

"We are deeply concerned that an investigation intended to uncover potential wrongdoing by U.S. government officials has instead sent a terrible message to the rest of the world. Repressive regimes who routinely jail journalists have already used this case to justify their actions." — Ann Cooper, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists.

———

"It's a stunning development for reporters' ability to do their jobs. It raises the specter of government intervention in the gathering of information and has to be noticed by anyone considering talking to a reporter." — Deanna Sands, president of Associated Press Managing Editors and managing editor of the Omaha, Neb., World-Herald.

———

"Ms. Miller joined my wife, Valerie, and her 20 years of service to this nation as collateral damage in the smear campaign launched when I had the temerity to challenge the president on his assertion that Iraq had attempted to purchase uranium yellowcake from Africa." — former U.S. Ambassador Joe Wilson, whose wife's identity as a CIA officer was leaked by someone in the Bush administration.