U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White on Friday (Aug. 4) expressed sympathy for two Chronicle reporters who are facing jail for refusing to reveal the source of grand jury testimony in the Barry Bonds case. But White said the reporters — Lance Williams, 56, (left) and Mark Fainaru-Wada, 41 — are “swimming upstream” against precedents that have held that the government can force reporters to reveal their confidential sources. According to a story by the Chronicle’s Bob Egelko, the judge extensively questioned lawyers for both sides during the two-hour hearing and did not indicate when he would rule. If he upholds the subpoenas and orders the reporters to testify, and they refuse, they could be jailed until the current grand jury’s term expires next year.
Jail seems more likely for Chron reporters
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