Justice Dept. and Julian Assange reach plea deal in case that threatens press freedom
AP Photo/Cliff Owen
The Espionage Act is an unconstitutional law used to prosecute whistleblowers and news publishers.
The Espionage Act is a broad secrecy law that outlaws the sharing of defense information with anyone, for any reason.
In recent years, the law has been wielded to stifle dissent and journalism. Whistleblowers have been imprisoned under the law. It’s also been used against journalists and news outlets that publish government secrets.
We must reform the Espionage Act to distinguish between spying and the exposing of wrongdoing.
Featured Items
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Press freedom advocates and news outlets strongly condemn new charges against Julian Assange
Here’s what numerous civil liberties and digital rights groups had to say about the implications of the new unprecedented charges against Julian Assange under the Espionage Act.
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The Trump admin’s new charges against Julian Assange are a fundamental threat to press freedom in the 21st century
The Trump administration’s new charges against WikiLeaks and Julian Assange are the most fundamental threat to press freedom in the 21st century
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Chelsea Manning could be jailed again today
Manning was released after a grand jury investigation into WikiLeaks expired last week, but she was immediately subpoenaed to order before a new one — and she could be jailed again for her courage when she resists again.
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Prosecuting WikiLeaks for publishing activities poses a profound threat to press freedom
Any Espionage Act prosecution also threatens journalists at the New York Times and Washington Post.
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FBI whistleblower Terry Albury sentenced to four years in prison for sharing information with journalists
FBI whistleblower Terry Albury has been sentenced to four years in prison for leaking information of huge public interest value to the press.
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Support FBI whistleblower Terry Albury, who is set to be sentenced next week
The documents whistleblower Terry Albury is assumed to have shared detail the FBI’s recruitment tactics, investigations of minorities, and how the agency monitors journalists. Next week, he'll be sentenced in federal court, and for his act of courage, he could face years in prison.
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Whistleblower Reality Winner sentenced to longest prison term in the history of federal leak cases
For alerting the public about hacking attempts on election infrastructure, Reality was given five years in jail.
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Reality and the Espionage Act
The first whistleblower prosecuted by the Trump administration, Reality Winner pled guilty to one count of violating the Espionage Act. Her case is the latest in a long history of targeting sources and whistleblowers under the draconian law.
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Freedom of the Press Foundation statement on whistleblower Reality Winner’s plea deal
Former intelligence contractor and whistleblower Reality Winner has pled guilty to leaking a secret NSA report to the press.
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The accused FBI whistleblower indicted by Trump's DOJ allegedly leaked secret rules for spying on reporters
If alleged whistleblower Terry Albury did what he is accused of, journalists should consider him a hero.
