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"The same Constitution that protects the freedom of the press requires obedience to final decisions of the courts and respect for their rulings and judgments," Norm Pearlstine, editor-in-chief of Time Inc., said in a statement announcing that the company will comply with a court order to deliver documents, eliminating the need for soon-to-be-jailed Matt Cooper to testify.

It's a nice civics lesson.

And one, we're sure, that has nothing to do with the judge in the case threatening the company with "very large" fines, or with the wacko special prosecutor saying he might press for contempt charges against individual officers of the company — like, say, Pearlstine.

Update: "You people are so fucking lame," says Times chief Arthur Sulzberger, not in so many words, after the jump.

Statement of Time Inc. [Romenesko]
Reporters Get 1 Week to Name Sources [LAT]
Earlier: School for Scandal: The Matt and Judy Show [Wonkette]

Statement from Arthur Sulzberger Jr., publisher of The New York Times and chairman of The New York Times Company:

We are deeply disappointed by Time Inc.'s decision to deliver the subpoenaed records. We faced similar pressures in 1978 when both our reporter Myron Farber and the Times Company were held in contempt of court for refusing to provide the names of confidential sources. Mr. Farber served 40 days in jail and we were forced to pay significant fines. Our focus is now on our own reporter, Judith Miller, and in supporting her during this difficult time.