Politics

Darrell Issa e-mail leaks: Why John F. Harris is massively overreacting

Vince Coglianese Contributor
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I coughed up a lung laughing today as I read the Washington Post story about Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who is investigating his press spokesman for allegedly leaking hundreds of e-mails from dozens of reporters to New York Times reporter Mark Leibovich. (Leibovich is writing a book about Washington’s political culture.)

The organ expulsion came as I read the protestations of Politico Editor-in-Chief, John F. Harris, about the alleged leaks, which the Post quoted from a Politico story.

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Although I would be first to offer condolences to any reporter whose e-mails or inquiries to a press officers had been blithely shared with another reporter, I wouldn’t spend more than five seconds on cheering him up. A certain variety of Washington reporter lives and dies by leaks from government officials, so I don’t see why a government official leaking to a reporter about a national security matter is kosher, but a government official leaking about what reporters are asking him about is “egregiously unprofessional,” “compromising,” or “intolerable,” as Harris puts it.

Full Story: John F. Harris, go soak your head.