At a press conference following her release from prison, Leggett defended her actions after being incarcerated for more than five months and defiantly said that she would be willing to return to prison if necessary. "If that's what it takes, that's what it takes," she said. "This is not so much about me. It's about the public's right to a free and independent press."

Leggett was released because the grand jury before which she was ordered to testify completed its term. Jailing for civil contempt, which is meant to force desired behavior rather than punish, must come to an end when there is no longer a way for the witness to comply with the subpoena.

Leggett's attorney, Michael DeGuerin, said that prosecutors promised in court to continue their efforts to force her to comply with their demands. "I'm saddened by the government's position that they will try to incarcerate her again," said the lawyer. U.S. Assistant District Attorney Terry Clark would not say whether the government plans to take the investigation to a new grand jury.

Leggett is writing a book on the 1997 murder of Doris Angleton, the wife of a wealthy Houston bookie. Initially she had cooperated with FBI agents who questioned her, but later she explained that she regretted that decision. According to the January 5 Houston Chronicle, FBI agents offered to hire Leggett as a paid, confidential informant. Leggett refused and was eventually arrested and jailed.

Throughout her imprisonment, federal prosecutors insisted Leggett was not protected by the constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech as she was a freelance reporter not a professional journalist, and that her book was not yet sold to a publisher.

This question has been widely discussed in the Houston media. The question came up again at the press conference when one of the supporters of Leggett who greeted her at the Harris County Jail was U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, member of the House Judiciary Committee. Jackson Lee used to the occasion of Leggett's press conference to discuss her proposed legislation ostensibly designed to "shield" reporters from jail. Jackson Lee said the proposed law would use "intent to publish" as a yardstick. If a freelance writer could show "intent to publish" then they would be shielded from facing jail as Leggett has.

In covering the statement, Chronicle writer Alan Bernstein was careful to note that not even all reporters agree with this proposal as many fear it would lead to government licensing of journalists and lead to conscious exclusion of some.  
 
 
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