The Obama administration has used the Espionage Act , which was passed in 1917 , to target suspected leakers in six cases , twice the number undertaken by all previous administrations combined . A federal shield law might have protected Associated Press from theft of records . The Obama administration has taken a hard line against government leakers . ` ` A shield law would keep lazy prosecutors from going after the ' notes , '' said the editor .
A federal shield law might have protected Associated Press from theft of records . The Obama administration has taken a hard line against government leakers . ` ` A shield law would keep lazy prosecutors from going after the ' notes , '' said the editor .