WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives defied a White House veto threat on Tuesday and overwhelmingly passed legislation that would protect reporters from being jailed for refusing to reveal confidential sources.
By a vote of 398 to 21, the House sent to the Senate a bill that would prohibit prosecutors from forcing reporters to reveal confidential sources, except under limited circumstances.
"Freedom of the press is fundamental to our democracy and is fundamental to our security," declared House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat.
The margin of the House vote was more than the two-thirds majority needed to override a possible veto by President George W. Bush.
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