Sign in to wowOwow

Enter the email address that you used when registering at wowOwow.
The password field is case sensitive. Click here if you have forgotten your password.

Please register for wowOwow

Newsletter subscriptions
Sign up to receive wowOwow's weekly newsletter and get our best picks delivered right to your inbox. Our newsletter content is hand-picked by the wowOwow editorial team and provides the top features, news, and commentary from our site. Subscribing to our newsletter is free and safe. We will never share your email or other information with a third-party without your direct consent.
By registering, you indicate that you have read and agree
with our privacy policy and terms of service.
Home › Politics

Jane Harman | 04/21/2009 8:35 am

Rep. Harman Asked The New York Times to Kill Wiretap Story, Says Editor Bill Keller

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
© AP

Rep. Jane Harman, a Democrat allegedly caught on NSA wiretaps agreeing to help two Israeli lobbyists, asked The New York Times to not publish a 2005 story on the NSA’s illegal, comprehensive wiretap program.

That’s what the paper says, at least, according to a memo from executive editor Bill Keller, which has been published at The Plum Line:

Congresswoman Harman spoke to Washington Bureau Chief Phil Taubman in late October or early November, 2004, apparently at the request of [NSA Head General Michael] Hayden. She urged that The New York Times not publish the story. She did not speak to me, and I don’t remember her being a significant factor in my decision. In 2005, when we were getting ready to publish, Phil met with a group of congressional leaders familiar with the eavesdropping program, including Ms. Harman. They all argued that The New York Times should not publish. The Times published the story a few days later.

If this story pans out, Harman could be in a lot of trouble, politically at least: Hayden was appointed to the National Security Agency by George W. Bush. The idea that a Democrat was taking orders from a Republican would not go down well within Harman’s — or anybody’s — party.

Read more about: Bill Keller, George W. Bush, Israel, Jane Harman, Media, Michael Hayden, New York Times, News, NSA, Wiretapping

7 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

caj p

If this is true she should be in trouble and yet more evidence that the Israel lobby is still going strong…why do they have such a hold on everybody?  When are we going to get a backbone and tell them to take a hike?

By caj p on 04/21/2009 8:44 am
f p
Typical politician—cover your ass is rule number one in politics.
By f p on 04/21/2009 8:48 am
DeBúrca obj
I thought ‘wiretapping’ our citizen’s was not being used for political reasons but only to catch terrorists? Is anyone else disturbed by the fact that this was done?
By DeBúrca obj on 04/21/2009 10:28 pm
Patty E

My feeling is that there will be quite the housecleaning in the next election for congress…and it will be seen as a very dirty house, at the outset…..lots of people have been replaced already from the right side of the aisle, and now that we have ‘transparency’ under Obama—-there will be more scrubbing on both sides of the aisle……

We never really know what ALL the circumstances were/are, surrounding this issue—-and who knows, maybe it would have been better to hold stuff ‘close to the vest’ until further events unfolded….but this has become an issue now….for better or for worse.

Personally, it is my belief that Israel has too much control over too much of the world, especially the US….and in my opinion, they are dangerously putting this world at great risk with their shennanigans…..I see war in the future.  Between Israel and the middle east (think Iran).  I would like to see the US walk down a middle road—-not the Israeli built path…. 

By Patty E on 04/21/2009 9:49 am
nanchan u
Not sure why my gut is screaming that this is just the tip of the iceberg…..I think there’s a bigger story here.
By nanchan u on 04/21/2009 9:49 am
S.J. Morgan
Not surprised she asked…..works for Obama.
By S.J. Morgan on 04/21/2009 11:27 am
DeBúrca obj
"If this story pans out, Harman could be in a lot of trouble, politically at least: Hayden was appointed to the National Security Agency by George W. Bush. The idea that a Democrat was taking orders from a Republican would not go down well within Harman’s — or anybody’s — party."
By DeBúrca obj on 04/21/2009 10:29 pm