Washington, D.C.
The Bush administration this week threatened to file criminal charges against ABC News reporters who smuggled uranium into the country to test port security. Correspondent Brian Ross and his producers sent 15 pounds of depleted uranium to Los Angeles from Indonesia, a terrorism hot spot. The substance is not radioactive enough to be used in weapons, and can be legally imported. But Homeland Security officials said the shipment might have been illegal because the contents were not disclosed. “Can a reporter rob a bank to prove that bank security is weak?” a department spokesman asked. An ABC News spokesman said the ruse was part of a valid investigation. “This is what journalists do,” he said.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Quiz of The Week: 15 – 21 NovemberQuiz Have you been paying attention to The Week’s news?
-
Can the UK do more on climate change?Today's Big Question Labour has shown leadership in the face of fraying international consensus, but must show the public their green mission is ‘a net benefit, not a net cost’
-
The Week Unwrapped: Will US Catholics rebel against the Pope?Podcast Plus what are the ethics of freezing your late partner?
