Klobuchar called on the U.S. Department of Justice to protect journalists—even if those journalists criticize the government

Over the last year, Klobuchar has pressed Attorney General Jeff Sessions about any potential action to weaken the existing protections for journalists in light of their previous exchanges before the Judiciary Committee

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar joined Senator Jeff Flake and took to the Senate floor to stand up for freedom of the press. In her remarks, Klobuchar called on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to protect journalists—even if those journalists criticize the government. Over the last year, Klobuchar has pressed Attorney General Jeff Sessions about any potential action to weaken the existing protections for journalists in light of their previous exchanges before the Judiciary Committee.

“Our founders knew that our democracy depended on the freedom of the press. In 1804, Thomas Jefferson wrote that our first objective should be to leave open ‘all avenues to truth’, and that the most effective way of doing that is through ‘the freedom of the press,’” Klobuchar said. “Well, over 200 years later, the press is still one of the best avenues to truth. And we must still protect it.”

Klobuchar continued, “Over the last year, I’ve asked Attorney General Sessions twice if he’d commit to protecting journalists from being jailed for just doing their jobs. He wouldn’t – both times saying he hadn’t had time to review the rules.”

“The American people deserve the truth, and we rely on journalists to keep digging for it. That’s something to celebrate – not undermine. I urge this chamber to do everything we can to live up to Jefferson’s words and protect this essential avenue to truth,” Klobuchar concluded.

Broadcast-quality video of Klobuchar’s remarks are available here.

During his confirmation hearing and at a Judiciary Committee hearing last October, Klobuchar questioned Attorney General Sessions about his commitment to defending the freedom of the press and not to put reporters in jail for doing their jobs. He responded both in the hearing and to a written follow-up that he had not had time to review the issue. In December, Klobuchar requested additional information regarding the DOJ’s review of its guidelines on subpoenas for news organizations. Following a New York Times report that White House advisers discussed the pending merger between CNN parent company Time Warner and AT&T, Klobuchar, Ranking Member of the Antitrust Subcommittee, led a letter to the DOJ stressing again that political interference in antitrust enforcement is unacceptable.

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