Witch-hunt by the powerful backed by party of money.

It maybe a partisan issue at the grassroots, but it's not really such in government where the majority of politicians are in the same bubble of silencing dissidents and whistleblowers using any means to the end.

The whole fiasco is a "This is what happens to you... reporters, publishers, and snitches.. when you threaten to expose our lies and our crimes. We invent crimes and murder you slowly."

The only way to prevent this from happening again is to overthrow the powers-that-be because it will keep happening.