Harry Hurley Late Breaking News

Harry Hurley on the federal operation known as "Operation Broken Boards"

By HARRY HURLEY

Editor & Publisher

HarryHurley.com

FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2008

5:50 a.m.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FBI & THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR NEW JERSEY ...

SHAME ON THE ATLANTIC CITY PRESS

I am very concerned (and, disgusted) today that The Atlantic City Press decided to publicly reveal the name of an FBI Special Agent in today's editions.

I consider this a reckless act that could hinder, or, otherwise risk pending and future criminal investigation operations.

I will not publicly confirm the name of The Special FBI Agent that The Press chose to recklessly reveal in today's editions. No responsible person/entity would do this.

In typical Atlantic City Press fashion, today's verbiage regarding me was a real "peach."

"Not knowing what to do (John D'Angelo) called radio talk show host Harry Hurley," The Press writes. "These are very bad guys," Hurley told him (D'Angelo), then handed over the number of FBI Special Agent XXXXXXXXXX," The Press concludes.

They want the public to know that I just slung a Special FBI Agent's phone number to John D'Angelo. It did not go like this at all.

I carefully reviewed a number of public documents in John D'Angelo's possession. I told him that in my opinion serious crimes were being committed. I told John that it would be utterly reckless for me to reveal what I had learned. I strongly advised John to consider meeting with the appropriate legal authorities ... and, that I could make the appropriate introduction.

I told him to think about this, and, get back to me. About three days later John advised me that he wanted to proceed. It was then that I introduced him to a highly talented and respected federal law enforcement official that I have a long standing relationship with. I have and will always maintain (secret) this law enforcement official's identity. This is how it must be.

To The Press, you once again can't get it right, even when the truth is handed to you on a silver platter.

Don't they understand that the federal government has an almost impossible job these days. That against all odds, they are doing it so incredibly well.

Additionally, by publicly revealing the name of a Special FBI Agent, who may be working under cover, risks not only pending, but, future criminal investigations. In other words, bad guys may actually escape being brought to justice by their reckless actions.

But, even more importantly ... It could put that FBI Special Agent's life in danger. Actions such as The Press of Atlantic City have taken today can ruin the careers of Special FBI Agents.

They have an obligation ... at so many important levels ... a moral obligation ... a professional obligation ... an ethical obligation (in my view) to protect the identity of Special FBI Agents.

They should have gone out of their way to do this!

I am appalled and shocked that The Press would reveal, by name, an FBI Special Agent for the public to see.

No one wants to be the first to break news. And, no one breaks more of it than I do! We do it on a daily basis and lead the Metro Market in accurate, responsible, breaking news reporting.

I basically have no problem in general with The Press reporting about John D'Angelo, who is a man that I did introduce to the FBI. I will never confirm who I introduced him to ... for the reasons previously mentioned.

John D'Angelo deserves to have his name cleared.

John D'Angelo was always a GOOD GUY in the federal criminal investigations and prosecutions, known as "Operation Broken Boards." We have told you that as soon as we were able.

The Atlantic City Press has long reported otherwise. Finally, today they are willing to admit that D'Angelo has a letter from The United States Justice Department, confirming that he is and always was a "Good Guy."

Well placed sources have told me that letters such as this are almost unprecedented.

By innuendo and even direct bogus reporting, The Press consistently made D'Angelo look like he was a "Bad Guy." They were as consistently wrong throughout this entire federal operation as you could possibly be.

The Press comes out of this with their already shaky reputation even further damaged.

We are going to interview John D'Angelo, live on-the-air, for the second time this morning, regarding his work with the federal government.

The absolute strict rules of engagement here is that we will do nothing to jeopardize any pending or future criminal investigation.