David Jackson

USA TODAY

President Obama suggested Friday that no reporter will go to jail for refusing to name confidential sources, even as prosecutors pursue cases involving the publication of classified material.

"I can read back to you what Attorney General [Eric] Holder said which is no journalist is going to go to jail for doing their job," Obama said during a news conference in Burma.

Obama said the issues of press freedom and national security involve a balancing act.

"We've got courts and the First Amendment and a whole bunch of tools to ensure that balance is properly debated and adjudicated," Obama said.

The president said he could not comment in detail on a case involving James Risen of The New York Times.

Reports Politico:

"In fact, Risen vigorously protested the trial subpoena issued to him and the court system ultimately gave him no relief.

"While a district court judge effectively threw out the subpoena, a federal appeals court overturned her decision and the Supreme Court declined to hear the dispute.

"At the moment, Risen appears to lack any legal protection from having to testify and his fate appears to depend on Holder abiding by his promise not to seek to send the reporter to jail."