“I do think there are real issues regarding the relationship with the media on this leak matter,” Axelrod said on MSNBC’s Morning Joe. “The notion of naming a journalist as a co-conspirator for receiving information is something that I find very disturbing.

“We have to figure out…how we deal with national security leaks and how we protect the freedom of the press and the freedom of reporters to operate,” Axelrod continued. “And certainly this Rosen case raises some very disturbing issues.”