Donald Trump is considering forcing journalists to reveal the sources of leaks about the impact of Iran attacks
Donald Trump. Credit Line: Andrew Harnik / Zuma Press / Profimedia
US President Donald Trump said he was analyzing the possibility to disclose their sources on journalists who have published details from a report of American information services that evaluated the impact of recent American attacks in Iran. The White House leader also claimed that his administration could criminally prosecute reporters and sources in question if he does not comply, The Guardian reports.
In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Trump reiterated the US Army attacks on June 21, successfully paralyzed Tehran's nuclear program. He insisted that the blows destroyed keyly rich uranium stocks, despite the Iranian statements that the material had been relocated before the American operation.
The president rejected the assessment in the report of intelligence in the public space, which suggested that the attacks only temporarily disturbed Iran's development. The report, which circulated in the circles of Congressmen and of the secret services, concluded that the damage caused was significantly smaller than what the Trump administration has publicly supported.
Donald Trump threatens with legal consequences
The Republican leader of the United States also criticized the Democratic Congressmen and the members of the press who distributed passages from the secret analysis. Then threatened with legal consequences for those responsible.
During the interview, the host of the show, Maria Bartiromo, referred to a post distributed by Trump on social networks, in which he wrote: “Democrats are the ones who disclosed the information on the perfect flight to Iran nuclear sites. They should be prosecuted!”.
Trump then reiterated live that “they should be prosecuted.”
“Who exactly?” Bartiromo asked.
Trump replied: “You can find out – if he wanted it, he could easily find out.”
In recent days, Trump has criticized CNN and The New York Times. He condemned how to relate to Iran attacks as being “non -ariotic” and even evoked the possibility of an action in justice.
The two publications, together with a few others, reported that the preliminary report of the American Military Intelligence Agency shows that the attacks were only limited. Bombardments delayed Iran's nuclear ambitions, but did not completely destroy the program, according to the evaluation.
On Sunday, a social media account belonging to the Iranian leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accused Trump of “exaggerating to cover the truth and keep secret” after the recent American military blows could “do nothing”.
Trump, on the other hand, has repeatedly insisted that three nuclear installations were “destroyed”.
The US president spoke about the manner in which his administration could follow the source of secret information.
“You go and tell the reporter:” National Security-Who gave it to you? “, Said Trump. “You have to do this. And I guess we will do things like this,” he continued.
In the US, the Constitution generally protects journalists in order not to reveal their sources-but the privilege of the reporter, as it is known colloquially, has its limits.
The President had threatened to sue CNN and New York Times for publishing articles about the preliminary information report before the statements made at Fox News on Sunday.
