I note that Assange’s fans in the blogosphere seem a little uncertain as to whether he has broken any laws or not. I’m not talking about the Swedish rape charges, which to me seem unfair, but are probably just a means to get him under lock and key while other charges are prepared. I’m talking about the release of US classified documents. For those who are in doubt out there, there really is no doubt. Assange has broken espionage laws. Most explicitly, the Espionage Act of 1917.
That law makes it a felony for an unauthorized person to possess or transmit “information relating to the national defense which information the possessor has reason to believe could be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of any foreign nation.”
The Espionage Act also makes it a felony to fail to return such materials to the U.S. government. Importantly, the courts have held that “information relating to the national defense” applies to both classified and unclassified material. Each violation is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
In an analysis of earlier WikiLeaks disclosures, Justice Dept officials said “it seems that there is ample statutory authority for prosecuting individuals who elicit or disseminate the types of documents at issue, as long as the intent element can be satisfied and potential damage to national security can be demonstrated.”
There is no doubt both of these requirements can be satisfied. This is the law I predict Assange will be charged with breaking and these are the offenses he will face trial on.
“Free speech” as Assange’s fans like to call it, is not a license to put a nation’s security at risk.
TrueblueNZ 
5 responses to “Assange Will Be Prosecuted Under Espionage Law”
A person is known by the company he keeps. When I saw John Pilger speaking in his defense all sympathy I had for Assange evaporated. A pity because had he concentrated on releasing information about Government coruption or instances of Government lying to the people I would be a strong supporter of him.
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The Espionage Act would surely only apply to either American citizens or persons inside America. Make no mistake, what Assange has done is dangerous and I think that he needs to serve time for it if only to stop him or copycat disclosures. Pilger can of course join him.
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Entirely agre with the above, Red.
And this is where the Left’s definition of what constitutes “Free speech” (and/or expression) and how the Right views it are like night and day.
The Left views it as acceptable to undermine the sovereignty of a nation, or to vandalise so called spy bases ala the Waihopai Three, or launch illegal flotillas in the aid of terrorist organisations/regimes and cry foul when Israel responds in what most would consider a very stayed hand under the circumstances.
Meanwhile, those on the Right merely declaring that Islam is a cult of violence and death based on its own scriptures, or that the homosexual agenda undermines the very building blocks of civil society, or that parents have the right to raise their children in accordance with what has been ragarded as “best practice” for thousands of years within Judeo-Christian and civil societies – these things are regarded as either”hate speech”, or in the third example as “child abuse” (by those on the Left).
So the Left have essentially a free hand and reject any and all condemnation for their speech/actions. While those on the Right can do nothing right and end up being blamed by the Left for all the woes of society and for inciting ‘hatred’ and ‘intolerance’ for simply stating the honest truth.
The Left want their cake and to eat it too – all care and no responsibility. Of course those of us on the Right know where the real culpability lies … and that day IS coming!
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“When I saw John Pilger speaking in his defense all sympathy I had for Assange evaporated. ”
Well, he has stated quite clearly that his intent is to destroy the USA. Not Red China. Not Russia. Not Cuba. The USA for all its blemishes, is a global force for freedom, and it is already under enough threats without left wing scum like Assange creating more problems. Aiding its enemies.
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RB – if Assange has declared that his aim is to destroy America, then he should be considered to be at war with them and they should go that route.
Target him with a drone and save on legal costs!
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