It SHOULD Stop.

An editorial, more or less an opinion piece from The Seattle Times discusses the manipulation of our freedom of press. The editorial "FBI is undermining core principle of a free press" digs it's nails into FBI's impersonation's of journalists to acquire knowledge. The editorial stating "Impersonating journalists is not an appropriate cover for the FBI.".

Who could argue that the "fundamental freedoms of American life" aren't being held over a fire. As if the First Amendment didn't preserve the "freedom to share ideas and covey information vital to a functioning republic" there is more at stake than journalists freedom of press, speech, and distribution of information.

By shining a light on those who find truth, convey a message and dig where other's can't the FBI has exposed a large source to all kinds of information. By pretending to be a journalist, journalists are in danger.

Who's to say they aren't all just spy-journalists, all in on it from the FBI. What a terrible assumption that put future information at stake. The editorial presents a valid point that the suspicions of innocent journalists and freelance writers can lead to dangerous events. For example the beheadings in both 2002 and 2014 of writers for being alleged spy-journalists.

To what extent will the FBI go to get information? Sacrificing the jobs, writings and opinions, even lives? FBI Director James B. Comey later argued that the impersonations of journalists to get information are done "reasonable and legally" in his letter to The New York Times. How can this be? Again not only are they infringing the rights of journalists they are impersonating, which to a degree may be felony. But also creating unreasonable circumstances to follow. Where does the trust go to the person confiding in journalists? Where does the trust go to the FBI who undermine the natural rights of other for information, and potentially endangering people?

"This deception undermines core American principles. It should stop."

It SHOULD Stop.

(editorial by the board of seattle times members: Kate Riley, Frank A. Blethen, Ryan Blethen, Jonathin Martin and others. Posted Nov.11. http://seattletimes.com/html/editorials/2025004310_fbiapeditorialxml.html)