Shortly after 9/11 the FBI was in the process of planning a raid on Global Relief Foundation, an Islamic charity suspected of providing financing for
Al Qaeda. The Foundation was reportedly tipped off by a reporter for the NYT, which may have led to the Foundation destroying documents the night
before the December raid according the 9/11 commission.
The US attorney's office is now seeking subpoenas for the Times to determine who leaked the imminent raid to them.
Chicago U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald, who is also acting as a special prosecutor in the CIA leak probe, informed the Times by letter last week
that his office has subpoenaed telephone company records. The move is part of an effort to determine whether anyone in the government told Times
reporters of planned federal asset seizures in December 2001 at the offices of an Islamic charity suspected of providing funding to al Qaeda,
according to several sources familiar with the case.
The subpoena seeks the phone records of two Times reporters, Philip Shenon and Judith Miller, according to the sources. Officials at the Times and in
Fitzgerald's office refused to comment.
This case will pit the rights of reporters to protect their confidential sources against national security concerns. I have to admit I'm disgusted
that the NYT would tip off Global Relief that the Feds were coming - but I do respect the journalist's right to keep his sources secret. Where do we
draw the line?
Washington Post