Under Fire, Obama Orders Review of DOJ Press Scrutiny

Trying to win back some friends?

WASHINGTON — President Obama ordered a review on Thursday of the Justice Department's procedures for legal investigations involving reporters, acknowledging that he was "troubled" that multiple inquiries into national security leaks could chill investigative reporting.

"Journalists should not be at legal risk for doing their jobs," Mr. Obama said in a wide-ranging address on counterterrorism policy. "Our focus must be on those who break the law."

Mr. Obama said he raised the issue with Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., who he said shared those concerns and would gather representatives from news media organizations as part of the review. Mr. Obama instructed Mr. Holder to report back to him by July 12.