WATCH: Barrett declines to weigh in on First Amendment protections for journalists

“Our right to a free and independent press is under assault,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said during a line of questioning for Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation to the Supreme Court. Klobuchar noted that President Trump has frequently used his platform to attack news organizations and journalists, decrying coverage that is not flattering to him as “fake news.” Klobuchar asked Barrett about New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, a landmark Supreme Court case that ruled false statements made by journalists must be made with “actual malice” in order to be considered libelous. Justice Clarence Thomas has questioned the malice standard, saying it does not align with the original meaning of the Constitution. But Barrett declined to say whether she would do the same, noting it would violate the principle that Supreme Court nominees not comment or weigh in on such cases. Asked whether the First Amendment safeguards a reporter's decision to protect a confidential source, Barrett again declined to weigh in on the question. Finally, asked whether she agreed on the importance of confidential sources, Barrett said this would be a policy question that could factor into the question of First Amendment protections and declined to give an opinion. “I hope people watching out there are going to follow the tracks of this record and are going to vote,” Klobuchar concluded.

Watch highlights from from Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court confirmation hearing - Day 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcl4NTMeLOM&t=247s

Watch highlights from Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court confirmation hearing - Day 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8lrQd4Azok&t=3s

Видео WATCH: Barrett declines to weigh in on First Amendment protections for journalists канала PBS NewsHour