WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Lawyers for Time magazine prepared an appeal Tuesday of a Washington judge's decision to hold one of its reporters in contempt.
Federal Judge Tom Hogan ruled the First Amendment does not insulate Time reporter Matthew Cooper from a requirement to testify before a criminal grand jury probing possible illegal disclosures of classified information, the Washington Post reported.
Cooper has refused to testify to the grand jury. A lawyer for the magazine said the judge's opinion, reached July 20 but not released until Monday, would be appealed immediately.
Hogan also ordered Cooper's "confinement" but stayed it pending an appeal.
In addition, the judge ordered Cooper remain "at a suitable place until such time as he is willing to comply with the grand jury subpoena," and ordered Time to be fined $1,000 a day. The fine was also stayed while the publication's expedited appeal is considered.
