HELENA – U.S. Sen. Max Baucus is joining the call for a federal media shield law in the wake of the Justice Department’s seizure of journalists’ records.
The Obama administration has in recent weeks acknowledged seizing portions of two months of phone records from The Associated Press. The Justice Department also read the emails of a Fox News reporter in separate investigations about the publication of government secrets.
Baucus said Thursday that he is co-sponsoring a proposed federal media shield law. It seeks to let journalists protect confidential sources and gather information free from government intrusion.
The Democrat the new law would “combat the chilling impact the DOJ’s actions have had on the press.”
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and U.S. Rep. Steve Daines have previously called for a new media shield law.