In 2005,the reporter Judith Miller of The New York Times spent 85 days in jail because she would not reveal the name of the individual who told her the name of a CIA employee.Why was the government able to hold her for so long?

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The government was able to hold Judith Miller for so long because there is no federal shield law that protects journalists from being forced to reveal their sources. This means that if a court orders a journalist to reveal a source and they refuse, they can be held in contempt of court and face imprisonment. While some states have shield laws to protect journalists, the state Miller was in (New York) did not have one at the time. In addition, the issue of national security likely played a role in the court's decision to hold Miller, but this was not the primary legal basis for her imprisonment.

In 2005,the Reporter Judith Miller of the New York Times