Reporter ordered to testify in leak probe

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Washington has ordered New York Times' journalist Judith Miller to testify before a grand jury regarding the CIA leak probe.

Judge Thomas F. Hogan in a Sept. 9 opinion released Thursday ordered Miller to provide details of any conversations she had with "a specified executive branch official" about "the potentially illegal disclosure of the identity of CIA official Valerie Plame," the New York Times reported.

"This court holds that Ms. Miller has no privilege, based in the First Amendment or common law, qualified or otherwise, excusing her from testifying before the grand jury in this matter. Ms. Miller must fulfill her obligation, shared by all citizens, to answer a valid subpoena issued to her by a grand jury acting in good faith," Hogan wrote in his opinion.

New York Times Company Assistant General Counsel George Freeman responded: "We regret that Judge Hogan has denied our motion to quash the subpoena on Judy Miller seeking that she reveal her confidential sources. Journalists should not be forced to testify about their confidential sources when they have done nothing more than aggressively gather news about government actions."