Fox News host Bill O'Reilly joked with reporter James Rosen at the end of his segment Wednesday on the O'Reilly Factor:
BILL O'REILLY: Okay. Now I have got to get back to Rosen. So Rosen when are you going to jail, because we are taking up the collection for the bail now. When are you going to jail?
JAMES ROSEN: Well I'm touched by your sentiments. [ laughter ]: But that's about all I would say.
BILL O'REILLY: Okay. I know that Fox News and your attorneys have told you that, you know, not to talk about it. But this has got to be harrowing. Your parents are involved now. And their phone lines and stuff like this. So anyway. We just want to tell the audience that Rosen is okay, we are protecting him. Getting all the support you need, right?
JAMES ROSEN: I feel good about where I am.
The DOJ's accusation that Rosen violated the Espionage Act by allegedly soliciting classified information from a State Department source has drawn condemnation from liberals and conservatives as an affront to the first amendment and freedom of the press.