WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of Justice has waged war on leakers, as the White House grows angrier over unauthorized disclosures of classified materials within the administration.
AN EXPLOSION OF LEAKS
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced at a press conference Friday an enhanced crackdown on what he called a "staggering number of leaks" that have undermined the government's functions.
His prepared remarks came against the backdrop of a series of breaking news reports using unnamed sources about probes into Russia's role in U.S. President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign and infighting within his administration, which have embarrassed the White House.
Sessions told reporters that referrals for probes of classified leaks to the Department of Justice from U.S. intelligence agencies "have exploded."
Officials said the department has more than tripled the number of active leak investigations compared to the number pending at the end of the last administration.
The announcement was also just a day after the U.S. daily newspaper the Washington Post published a transcript of rancorous phone calls between Trump and leaders of Australia and Mexico, the latest high-profile leaks that Sessions lashed out at.
"No one is entitled to surreptitiously fight to advance battles in the media by revealing sensitive government information," Sessions said. "This culture of leaking must stop."
TO EASE WHITE HOUSE ANGER
Besides Trump's conversation with foreign leaders, a steady stream of authorized disclosures have brought to light contacts between his inner circles with Russia, and even his revelation of highly classified information when meeting with Russian visitors in the Oval office.
Most of the leaks grabbed headlines, and were considered detrimental to the former business mogul's presidency.
Pressure has been piling up on Sessions, as the ardent Trump supporter previously failed to address the president's repeated frustrations regarding the leaks.
Last week, Trump denounced Sessions as "very weak" on leaks, part of his periodical demand for a crackdown.
"I want the attorney general to be much tougher on the leaks from intelligence agencies, which are leaking like rarely have they ever leaked before at a very important level," Trump said, in a show of his effort to assert political influence over law enforcement.
In a response on Friday, Sessions said he took the same stance with Trump on leaks, stressing that "no government can be effective when its leaders cannot discuss sensitive matters in confidence or talk freely in confidence with foreign leaders." Sessions recused himself in early March from the Russia investigation on the advice of ethics officials of the Justice Department.
Despite chaotic shake-ups in the Trump administration, Sessions was reportedly told that his job was safe by John Kelly, the newly-appointed White House Chief of Staff.
It remains to be seen whether the attorney general could walk the walk.
HARSH WARNING TO BOTH SIDES
While revealing the Department of Justice has already charged four people with unlawfully disclosing classified material or with concealing contacts with federal officers, Sessions warned would-be leakers against attempts to make any disclosures.
In a sharper warning, Dan Coats, Director of National Intelligence who joined Sessions in announcing the crackdown, said that anyone who improperly discloses classified information would be found, investigated and prosecuted.
Not all leaks are illegal, but disclosing certain categories of materials that put national security at risk is criminalized under the U.S. law. The war-era Espionage Act could be used to prosecute suspected leakers.
Additionally, Sessions warned the press that the department is reviewing polices affecting media subpoenas, a kind of writ that compels journalists to testify or provide evidence, with a penalty for failure to cooperate.
"We respect the important role that the press plays and will give them respect, but it is not unlimited," Sessions said. "They cannot place lives at risk with impunity."
Though Trump has repeatedly blasted news organizations and their stories as "fake news," it would be an unusual move to prosecute a journalist for publishing government secrets.
"Americans should be concerned about the Trump administration's threat to step up its effort against whistleblowers and journalist," Ben Wizner of the American Civil Liberties Union warned.
