Criminalizing Investigative Reporting


Two decades ago, I made an appointment with the F.B.I. at their field office at One Justice Way in Dallas. Showing up like Hansel and Gretel, I presented my breadcrumbs; files of lengthy correspondence with an imam in the Federal Chaplaincy Program.  I was entertained with "good cop, bad cop" and escorted out the door after a short visit.  Of course!  They didn't want my files! Didn't touch a thing I placed on the table.  They already had everything - down to my shopping patterns and when I had last purchased a pair of knickers.   But I did not receive a satisfactory answer for my primary question:  The imam had died. His best friend visited with Osama bin Ladin several weeks before 9/11.  His wife (a former Catholic) wrote and told me Osama was a freedom fighter and she strongly justified stoning women for adultery.  I had received vile bestiality porn comments from his e mail address. Had my investigative research placed me in danger?  Fast forward to this link:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/22/us/politics/fbi-times-reporter.html

Elizabeth Williamson did her job.  And she did it professionally with the full backing of the New York Times Editorial Board. Her article was vetted and my guess is a lot of discussion took place prior to going live with her investigation.  But because she reported out on a powerful man and examined the financial ethics of taxpayers paying for the security and protection of his girlfriend, a case file was opened and an investigation started against her. She was investigated for doing her job. Nothing in Ms. Williamson's behavior denotes a pattern of stalking.  There was no obsession with her subject.  She was involved in her work - which is dependent on her professionalism and integrity. There was no sextortion, blackmail, harassment, nor even one incident of physical contact. And if cyber-stalking includes using a search engine which crosses state lines and continents, we are all guilty as charged.

I understand.  Really, I do.  My own privacy of my papers... purchases... contacts... has been breached for years.  I am just... doing my job. I started with a bit of janky journalism as I learned about the terrain of the mind for terrorism. But over two decades I have taught myself to write fairly reliable stories.  It is what I offer to my audience today.  And if I make a mistake, peddle disinformation, or appear biased, I want to know.  Feel free to write me.

swoffordwrites@gmail.com

https://thelastenglishprince.wordpress.com/




  

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