Bob Woodward Offers to Serve Judith Miller's Jail Time

By: Joe Strupp Bob Woodward has offered to serve some of jailed reporter Judith Miller's time behind bars, and urged others to share her incarceration as well.

Miller, the New York Times reporter held in contempt for refusing to disclose her confidential source in the Valerie Plame case, was ordered to jail last Wednesday and could remain there for four months

Woodward, who appeared on Larry King Live Monday night, said journalists should be willing to help Miller out since she is essentially fighting for all reporters' rights by withholding her confidential source and giving up her freedom. Here is the transcript from the portion of the show:

WOODWARD: No. Clearly, we're not above the law. But frequently, people disobey the law. And when you do so, you have to be willing to accept the consequences. And in this case, the consequences, I guess, are a four-month jail sentence, and Judy Miller's willing to do that, to stand on this principle of trust. You know, I...

KING: You said you would have done it, too?

WOODWARD: I would have done it, too. And in fact, you know, maybe I shouldn't say this, but I will ...

KING: Go ahead.

WOODWARD: ... because it came to mind: If the judge would permit it, I would go serve some of her jail time, because I think the principle is that important, and it should be underscored. It's not a casual idea that we have confidential sources. It is absolutely vital. And I'll bet there are all kinds of reporters out there, if we could divvy up this four-month jail sentence -- I suspect the judge would not permit that, but if he would, I'll be first in line. It's that important to our business.

And this book and Watergate demonstrated, the daily reporting in any newspaper or on CNN illustrates that. And what are you going to do? Are you going to interview all of the public relations people, all of the spokespeople, and that's it? No one else can talk? Imagine, you know, the varnished pablum that would come out.

KING: We do need our Woodwards.

We're going to take a break and come back and go to your phone calls. Bob Woodward offering to serve part of the time for Judith Miller!