The Chicago Tribune withheld publication of information about the wiretapping and bugging of Gov. Blagojevich at the request of the U.S. Attorney office. In a just released statement, the newspaper explains why.
The Chicago Tribune investigated allegations of misconduct involving
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich independent of the U.S. attorney’s
criminal probe. As a standard practice, our reporters contact individuals involved in these stories for confirmation and comment prior to publication. Consequently, we contacted the U.S. attorney’s office in the course of our reporting. On occasion, prosecutors asked us to delay publication of stories, asserting that disclosure would jeopardize the criminal investigation. In isolated instances, we granted the requests, but other requests were refused. The Chicago Tribune’s interest in reporting the news flows from its larger obligation of citizenship in a democracy. In each case, we strive to make the right decision as reporters and as citizens. That’s what we did in this case.
ALSO: Sen. Dick Durbin, the other Senator from Illinois and an Obama ally, has called for the state legislature to call for an immediate special election to replace Obama, effectively taking the power away from Gov. Blagojevich.