The Department of Justice has announced it will not subpoena and pursue criminal charges against New York Times journalist James Risen in an effort to force the writer to reveal a confidential source.

Free speech and civil liberties advocates have long lambasted the federal government for its coercion efforts against the veteran reporter, and are welcoming the move as a victory for journalistic freedom and government transparency.

In this video, RootsAction.org’s Norman Solomon tells Ben Swann why this victory is so important.