Tracking attacks on the US press

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, taking up an issue that has infuriated Republican President Donald Trump, went on the attack against leaks on Friday, warning of a possible crackdown both on reporters and their sources inside the federal government.

In a move derided by critics as an attack on the free press, Sessions said the administration was reviewing policies on forcing journalists to reveal their sources.

It is, however, difficult to prosecute members of the news media in the United States for publishing leaked information.

Sessions also told the employees of government agencies to stop leaking and called the issue a matter of national security.

Trump has repeatedly voiced anger over a steady stream of leaks to the media about him and his administration since he took office in January.

Some have been related to probes into Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election; others have concerned infighting in the White House.

WASHINGTON — Prosecutors don’t intend to go after reporters for doing their jobs but could more forcefully try to get them to reveal their sources, a Justice Department official said Sunday.

“We’re after the leaker, not the journalist. We’re after people who are committing crimes,” Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told “Fox News Sunday.” His comments come two days after officials pledged to clamp down on government leaks they believe undermine American security.

Still, Rosenstein left open the possibility that reporters could be investigated for breaking other, unspecified laws.