“The story of what happened next — of a three-year affair
that unfolded between a young reporter and a government official with access to
top-secret information — is now part of a federal investigation that has
rattled the world of Washington journalists and the sources they rely on.
Mr. Wolfe, 57, was arrested on June 7 and
charged with lying to investigators about his contacts with Ms. Watkins and
three other journalists. Ms. Watkins, a Washington-based reporter for The New
York Times, had her email and phone records seized by federal prosecutors.
Now 26, Ms. Watkins was hired by The Times to cover
federal law enforcement in December, about four months after she has said her
relationship with Mr. Wolfe ended. Times officials are currently examining her
work history and what influence the relationship may have had on her reporting.
The Times is also reviewing her decision, on advice of her personal lawyer, not
to immediately tell her editors about a letter she received in February
informing her that her records had been seized.
The seizure of Ms. Watkins’s records was alarming to
First Amendment advocates. With no allegation that classified information was
disclosed, they said such a rare and aggressive tactic was unjustified and
could undermine journalists’ ability to report on government misconduct.”
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