Pray for Victims and Survivors 
 

Governor Mary Fallin said this morning, "Oklahoma people are very strong, and they will make it through this, but we're going to need a lot of prayer and a lot of support to get back on our feet." I know you will join Carol and me in praying for the people of Moore, Oklahoma. Click here for information on donating to the American Red Cross. Click here to donate to relief efforts led by Rev. Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse. 

Intimidating IRS Employees 

ABC News had a chilling story from reporters it sent last week to the Peck Federal Building in Cincinnati, Ohio. That is the government office at the center of the of IRS Tea Party scandal. Virtually no one would talk to the ABC reporters. 

One employee admitted off the record that building security guards told IRS employees "not to talk with the press -- a warning cemented by the punch line 'or risk losing our jobs.'" 

The reporters went into the Peck Federal Building looking for a manager who might be able to answer questions. Unbelievably, they were escorted throughout the building by an armed officer with the Federal Protective Service. Now consider this excerpt from the ABC report: 

"One of the reporters wanted to know if the act of following the journalists was an effort intended to scare off any federal employee who might have considered speaking to the press. That's sure what it looked like; and, even if that wasn't the goal, it was the effect."

Chilling Effect 

In yesterday's report, we commented on the Justice Department's outrageous labeling of Fox News reporter James Rosen as a possible criminal co-conspirator in a case involving the leak of classified information. 

While it is illegal for government employees to divulge classified information, it is not illegal for reporters to ask for it. When the federal government classified such asking as illegal, the administration took a huge leap toward criminalizing much of traditional journalism.

Now some unlikely allies in the media are coming forward to stand with Rosen. 

• New York Times reporter Mark Mazzetti said, "There's no question that this has a chilling effect. People who have talked in the past are less willing to talk now." 
   
• Howard Fineman of the Huffington Post tweeted, "#Fox Rosen probe as bad/worse than #AP: in unprecedented move, govt says he 'conspired' with leaker to get info; that's what reporters do!"
   
• Glenn Greenwald, who previously wrote for the liberal Salon.com and is now at the left-wing British paper The Guardian tweeted, "Accusing James Rosen of committing crimes -- for basic reporting -- may be the most dangerous thing the Obama DOJ has done yet." 
   
• Even Keith Olbermann, the former MSNBC and Current TV host, wrote, "My experience dealing with @jamesrosenfnc was unpleasant and contentious. And I fully support him against this unwarranted act by DOJ."

This assault on our First Amendment liberties is unprecedented and must be confronted. Reporters won't probe too deeply lest they fear being charged as criminals. Supporters and donors are increasingly hesitant to give to conservative causes lest they be subjected to IRS harassment. 
 

Scapegoating 

As the Watergate scandal began to unravel, the Nixon White House started scapegoating individuals hoping a few "sacrifices" would appease the media. Raymond Maxwell, the deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs, believes that is exactly what happened to him as a result of the Benghazi scandal. 

Maxwell was placed on administrative leave in December by Cheryl Mills, Hillary Clinton's chief of staff. In a recent interview with The Daily Beast, Maxwell says he was scapegoated by Hillary Clinton, adding that he had "no role in security decisions and has never been told the charges against him." He says he is coming forward now to "restore my honor." 

Maxwell may not be alone. PJ Media reports that new Benghazi whistleblowers may soon surface with explosive information about why we kept the Benghazi consulate open after other countries had left the area and why there was no military help provided on the night of the attack.