President Donald Trump is considering taking drastic measures to uncover the sources behind a leaked US intelligence report that assesses the impact of recent American military strikes on Iran’s nuclear program.
In an interview with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo on Sunday, Trump claimed that the strikes successfully crippled Iran’s nuclear program, despite Iranian assertions that the material had been relocated before the strikes.
He dismissed the leaked intelligence assessment as incomplete and biased, which suggested that the strikes only temporarily disrupted Iran’s nuclear development.
A Threat to Journalists and Sources
Trump threatened legal consequences for journalists and sources who refuse to comply with his demands to reveal their sources.
During the interview, he reiterated that those responsible should be prosecuted, stating that “they should be prosecuted” and claiming that it’s easy to find out who the sources are.
The president has targeted CNN and The New York Times for their reporting on the strikes, calling their coverage “unpatriotic” and even floating the possibility of legal action.
Trump has insisted that three nuclear facilities were “obliterated,” contradicting the leaked assessment that the strikes had only limited success.
The Constitution Protects Journalists, But There Are Limits
In the US, the constitution generally protects journalists from being compelled to reveal their sources, but there are limits to this reporter’s privilege.
Trump’s administration might pursue the sources of the leak, with the president stating that “you go up and tell the reporter, ‘national security – who gave it?'”.
This move has sparked concerns about press freedom and the ability of journalists to maintain confidential sources.
Trump has already threatened to sue CNN and The New York Times for publishing articles about the preliminary intelligence report.