The Associated Press is reporting that Speaker Hastert is not under investigation by the Justice Department. Is that true?

What we need to know is how many sources and how trusted are they? I am willing to guess that something strange is going on here. If the FBI didn't want anyone to know they were under investigation, could the JD just deny?

Brian,

You are still out there all by yourself reporting this story, basing the entire story on "anonymous sources". Do you still stand by your story?

ABC News' Brian Ross will probably next report that, according to an unidentified high federal official, he and his assistants work only to irreproachable journalistic standards.

I'm all for freedom of the press. And I think people like Bob Woodward deserve credit for uncovering major stories/scandals citing well-placed, anonymous sources. But this story is still being published in the face of a clear DOJ denial. Either ABC's journalistic standards have reached new lows, or this story is much larger than it seems. My guess is that the story will fade away with an inconspicuous correction, blaming the "anonymous source" or otherwise having ABC take no responsibility for rushing the story to the front page without sufficient corroborated evidence.

Give Brian Ross a break. Anonymous sources are problematic but lawyers are experts at using semantics and the statement from the DOJ simply says Hastert is not "under investigation." It does NOT say he is not a person "interest" or that he is not "in the mix" of an investigation.

I also agree that it is not a Rep or Dem thing. When are we going to wake up and get the politicans disconnected from the money? This is stupid. We continually fail to get anything substantial done in Wash. We have energy, healthcare, education, poverty and security issues that need to have our elected officials attentions ... yet I read about this trash. WAKE UP WASH. Put hard rules in place to stop law makers from pandering to the lobbyists and their money.

Regarding the "under investigation" phrase versus "person of interest", that is how ABC News headlined this story on the front page for the first report on this story. They have backed down somewhat from using that term now, but last night, the headline on the front page of ABC News specifically stated that Dennis Hastert was "Under Investigation"

Brian Ross=Dan Rather

Getting a little ahead of the news cycle there, eh?

"Semantics"? How about reporting the story straight instead playing semantic games?

If Hastert is "in the mix," then why isn't Harry Reid "in the mix" for the same alleged impropriety?

Since they've disabled comments on the second DOJ statement post, I'll say it here.

Where's the apology? Where does Hastert go to get his good name back?

Ross has smeared the 4th highest ranking person in the government of the United States with false allegations. He should resign or be fired.

If it turns out to not be true, then journalistic standards practically demand that Brian Ross burn his source.

The DOJ would NOT make such a statement in such a high profile matter if they knew the statement to be false. They would make some germane statement like "we never confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation".

I hope Hastert goes after ABC in civil court and forces them to disclose the sources as part of the proicess (or send some ABC yahoo's to the pokey for refusing to do so). If they are truly "people in the know" then they should be criminally prosecuted. My guess is they are strap hangers who do not have 1st hand knowledge and who are trying to embellish their "positions of importance" by claiming to have knowledge.

If Hastert and Co., were really interested in protecting the Constitution, they would stop the rubber stamping. They would start looking at this runaway presidency and they would begin articles of impeachment, which might just benefit them all since now it is the presidency against Congress with all out war proclaimed for the sake of power.

Bob

Brian Ross is another "reporter" who appears to be full of himself. Guys like him and Dan Rather appear to be so in love with themselves. Of course, their apparent desire to "be first and best" blinds them to the fact that the general television audience is smarter than either Ross or Rather. They don't watch them anymore. In fact, if it had not been for FOX News with Brit Hume this evening, I would have not known about this stupid report by Brian Ross. I hope he and Rather, and all of the other "wannabe champions of the scoop" keep it up. We love FOX News, and reports such as these just boost that network's popularity.

And you want to believe the DOJ who for months has been hiding the fact that they have been collecting your phone numbers under the guise of "national security?"

You guys just don't get it. This administration is in the bowels of the their "Culture of Corruption". Its all about money and power abuse. Gee, sounds just like Saddam's diary. Wake up bloggers, Karl Rove is next