Administration, Others Continue to Criticize New York Times For Story on Financial Records Program

President Bush has criticized the New York Times for deciding to go ahead with publication of a story in the June 22 New York Times about a secret program through which the administration has been tracking financial transactions that might lead to the funding of terrorist organizations and their activities. For two months the White House, along with other government leaders urged the Times not to publish the story. The administration seems to suggested no other tactics, including legal ones. Critics say the Times may have violated the law by publishing. Last week, the Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and other papers and tv outlets released details of the program. Read another story in the Times itself on the President’s reaction to the Times story here (has links to other stories, video). Read Times Executive Editor Bill Kellar’s Letter justifying the paper’s decision to publish here.