U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy expressed serious concerns over a disclosure that the Justice Department seized phone records of The Associated Press staff in Hartford, New York City and Washington, D.C.
The AP, a national news wire service, said it was notified by the Justice Department late last week that federal investigators had obtained phone records for more than 20 separate work and personal lines assigned to the AP and its reporters, including records for the AP’s main number in the House of Representatives press gallery.
The phone records reportedly were for outgoing calls made in April and May of 2012, with the seizure of the records thought to be connected to a May 7 article detailing an attempted bombing that was foiled by U.S. intelligence officials.
Blumenthal, a Democrat, said he was “deeply troubled” by the reports.
“I am concerned that this investigative action may fail to meet the government”™s high burden when invasion of privacy and chilling effects on First Amendment rights are at risk,” he said in a statement. “Long accepted and strongly established constitutional principles of free expression and profoundly important public interests protect the press from government interference and intrusion. The Department of Justice must be forthcoming with the facts as soon as possible.”
Connecticut’s junior senator echoed his colleague’s sentiments.
“We rely on the Department of Justice to enforce federal laws in our country and help keep Americans safe, and we trust that the leadership there is working steadfastly to accomplish that mission,” Murphy, also a Democrat, said in a statement. “It”™s incumbent on the Justice Department to explain why they”™ve seized telephone records from reporters and editors at The Associated Press so that their actions don”™t have a chilling effect on the freedom of the press.”
