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Espionage Act

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks to reporters at the White House | CNP/AdMedia/Sipa/Newscom

National Security

Pete Hegseth's Carelessness and Dishonesty Mirror Hillary Clinton's

The defense secretary, who shared information about imminent U.S. air strikes in a manifestly insecure group chat, thought Clinton should be prosecuted for her careless handling of sensitive information.

Jacob Sullum | 3.27.2025 5:00 PM

U.S. forces conducting airstrikes on Yemen on February 12, 2025. | EyePress/Newscom

War

The Atlantic Should Not Find Out About a War Before Congress Does

The White House accidentally leaked military plans in Yemen to a journalist—and demonstrated how unconstitutional U.S. war making has become.

Matthew Petti | 3.25.2025 11:05 AM

Julian Assange making a peace symbol in a car | News Licensing/Mega/Newscom

Julian Assange

Julian Assange, a Free Man

Plus: In defense of cigarettes, independent voters in the Hamptons, IRS data-privacy settlement, and more...

Liz Wolfe | 6.25.2024 9:30 AM

Julian Assange and Priscilla Villarreal | Victoria Jones/Zuma Press/Newscom; Saenz Photography/FIRE

First Amendment

Journalism Is Not a Crime, Even When It Offends the Government

Julian Assange and Priscilla Villarreal were both arrested for publishing information that government officials wanted to conceal.

Jacob Sullum | 5.1.2024 12:01 AM

Protester holding sign in support of Julian Assange | Martyn Wheatley/Parsons Media/Zuma Press/Newscom

Julian Assange

Greater Protections for Assange

Plus: Abortion pill case, another fatal subway crime, China's Cultural Revolution, and more...

Liz Wolfe | 3.26.2024 9:29 AM

File photo of Julian Assange | Fotogramma/ROPI via ZUMA Press

WikiLeaks

Biden Wants To Avoid a First Amendment Showdown Over WikiLeaks

U.S. prosecutors are looking to wriggle out of an espionage trial for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Matthew Petti | 3.21.2024 3:30 PM

Former Special Counsel Robert Hur testifies at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing | Ron Sachs/CNP/Picture Alliance/Consolidated News Photos/Newscom

Joe Biden

Interview Transcripts Support Robert Hur's Description of Biden's 'Poor Memory'

During a congressional hearing, the former special counsel caught flak from Democrats outraged by his legally mitigating but politically damaging portrayal of the president.

Jacob Sullum | 3.12.2024 6:15 PM

Julian Assange on the left and Rep. Thomas Massie on the right against a dark American flag background | Illustration: Lex Villena; Gage Skidmore, Cancillería del Ecuador

State of the Union

Julian Assange's Brother Will Attend the State of the Union Address as Rep. Thomas Massie's Guest

As Joe Biden gives his speech, the audience will include this reminder of the journalist he’s trying to jail.

Matthew Petti | 3.7.2024 9:00 AM

Military members saluting a flag | Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Julia Ahaesy

National Security

National Guardsman Gets 16 Years for Leaking Pentagon Docs Over Discord

Jack Teixeira shared documents on the war in Ukraine to a gamer group on Discord.

Matthew Petti | 3.4.2024 6:06 PM

a London protest in support of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange | Steve Taylor/Zuma Press/Newscom

Free Press

The Biden Administration Is Bent on Setting an Alarming Precedent by Prosecuting Julian Assange

The WikiLeaks founder already has spent as much time in a London prison as DOJ lawyers say he is likely to serve if convicted in the U.S.

Jacob Sullum | 2.20.2024 4:10 PM

Victor Berger 14th Amendment | Source: Wiki Commons; Illustration: Lex Villena

Donald Trump

Trump Wouldn't Be the First Non-Confederate Barred From Office by the 14th Amendment

The weird story of Victor Berger, the Espionage Act, and "Shoeless" Joe Jackson.

Eric Boehm | 12.29.2023 1:00 PM

Donald Trump on the left, Clark Neily on the right | Lex Villena, Reason

Donald Trump

Clark Neily: Regardless of Guilt, Trump Won't Go to Jail

The constitutional lawyer and criminal justice reformer talks about our two-tier punishment system and deep-seated corruption at the Justice Department.

Nick Gillespie and Zach Weissmueller | 6.16.2023 4:34 PM

Donald Trump speaking at a podium in black and white on a black and white grid background

Donald Trump

Should Trump Go to Prison?

Join Reason on YouTube and Facebook Thursday at 1 p.m. Eastern for a discussion of the Trump indictment with constitutional lawyer Clark Neily.

Zach Weissmueller and Nick Gillespie | 6.14.2023 11:14 AM

Donald Trump's federal indictment presents new evidence that his retention of classified records was willful. | Kyle Mazza/Zuma Press/Newscom

Donald Trump

Trump's Federal Indictment Presents New Evidence of Deliberate Deceit and Obstruction

The former president's retention of classified documents looks willful and arguably endangered national security.

Jacob Sullum | 6.12.2023 4:45 PM

Classified documents stored in Mar-a-Lago bathroom | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE/UPI/Newscom

Criminal Justice

Did Trump Break a Law That Shouldn't Exist?

Plus: A rundown of recent nonsensical proposals for constitutional amendments

Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Peter Suderman | 6.12.2023 4:04 PM

Screenshot via Fox News | Screenshot via Fox News

Donald Trump

Trump's Own Attorney General Says Indictment Is 'Very, Very Damning'

Plus: Mark Zuckerberg reacts to the Twitter Files, CNN's lockdown hypocrisy, and more...

Robby Soave | 6.12.2023 9:30 AM

Trump | Gripas Yuri/ABACA/Newscom

Donald Trump

Trump Indicted, Faces Federal Criminal Charges Under Espionage Act

Plus: FIRE investigates "woke" Florida professor's dismissal, inequality index finds progress across multiple dimensions, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 6.9.2023 9:41 AM

Reality Winner in federal custody in 2018 | Bob Andres/TNS/Newscom

Government secrecy

With Classified Documents, the Real Divide Is Between the Powerful and the Rest of Us

It's not Trump vs. Biden: High officials play fast and loose with government secrets, but only regular people face harsh penalties.

J.D. Tuccille | 1.16.2023 7:00 AM

The Justice Department's discretion is the only thing that protects "real" journalists from Julian Assange's fate. | Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/Sipa US/Newscom

Free Press

'Real' Journalists Recognize That Prosecuting Julian Assange Poses a Grave Threat to Freedom of the Press

The Justice Department’s discretion is the only thing that protects them from a similar fate.

Jacob Sullum | 11.30.2022 12:01 AM

Person protesting Assange extradition | Steve Taylor / SOPA Images/Sipa/Newscom

Free Press

Major Media Outlets Condemn Continued Prosecution of Julian Assange

The open letter warns the indictment “threatens to undermine America’s First Amendment and the freedom of the press.”

Scott Shackford | 11.28.2022 3:15 PM

Sen. Rand Paul | Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Newscom

Espionage Act

Sen. Rand Paul Proposes Dumping Entire Espionage Act

The law has been abused to prosecute citizens for reasons other than spying. But there are better examples than Trump to highlight problems.

Scott Shackford | 8.15.2022 4:50 PM

Trump raises fist in front of Mar a Lago estate | Lex Villena; Photos: Charles Trainor Jr./TNS/Newscom; Niyi Fote/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

FBI

Muddling Through the Mar-a-Lago Mess

Plus: The editors reaffirm free speech absolutism in the wake of the recent attack on Salman Rushdie.

Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Peter Suderman | 8.15.2022 3:20 PM

Assange protest poster | Vuk Valcic/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

Whistleblowers

Proposed Bill Would Protect Journalists Like Julian Assange From Espionage Charges

A senator and two congressmen team up to help protect whistleblowers from vindictive prosecution.

Scott Shackford | 8.1.2022 2:05 PM

dreamstime_xl_3927660 | Photo 3927660 © Richard Gunion | Dreamstime.com

Reason Roundup

After Avoiding a Government Shutdown, What Will Congress Do With the Waning Days of 2021?

Plus: Formerly imprisoned NSA contractor Reality Winner gets interviewed by 60 Minutes, San Francisco tries the novel approach of not taxing businesses to death, and more...

Eric Boehm | 12.6.2021 9:35 AM

topicscivilliberties | Photo: Courtesy of Bob Hayes

Civil Liberties

A Drone Whistleblower Goes to Prison

Too often, the government punishes citizens who reveal the state's true behavior to their fellow Americans.

Scott Shackford | 10.12.2021 6:00 AM

predatordrone_1161x653 | Gaetano Lo Porto/Ropi/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Drones

Daniel Hale Revealed America's Drone Assassinations to the Public. He's Been Sentenced to 45 Months in Prison.

Federal espionage laws are used once again to punish a whistleblower.

Scott Shackford | 7.28.2021 1:00 PM

realitywinner_1161x653 | Bob Andres/TNS/Newscom

Espionage Act

National Security Agency Leaker Reality Winner Freed from Prison Early

She was sentenced to more than five years for revealing how Russia tried to hack the 2016 election.

Scott Shackford | 6.14.2021 5:00 PM

Rwinner_1161x653 | Bob Andres/TNS/Newscom

Pardons

Imprisoned Leaker Reality Winner Seeks Mercy From Trump

She’s nearly three years into a five-year sentence for releasing classified documents showing Russian attempts to hack U.S. election systems.

Scott Shackford | 2.18.2020 2:25 PM

zumaamericastwentyfour053524 | Dominic Lipinski/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Reason Roundup

Dangerous Precedent Looms in Espionage Indictment Against Julian Assange

Plus: Naomi Wolf has no clue (again), gun site wins Section 230 case, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 5.24.2019 9:40 AM

assangenew_1161x653 | Victoria Jones/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Julian Assange

New Espionage Charges Against Assange Are Bad for Journalists, Worse for Citizens

It's not just the right to report that's under attack. It's also your right to be informed.

Scott Shackford | 5.23.2019 6:40 PM

dronestrike_1161x653 | Ilka Cole/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Whistleblowers

He Helped Reveal How U.S. Drone Strikes Were Killing Innocents. The Feds Just Charged Him With Espionage.

Another intelligence analyst who leaked important information to the public is treated like a traitor.

Scott Shackford | 5.9.2019 1:30 PM

Large image on homepages | Bob Andres/TNS/Newscom

Whistleblowers

Donald Trump Should Stick it to Jeff Sessions and the 'Deep State' by Pardoning Reality Winner

The woman who leaked a report showing Russian attempts to infiltrate voting systems gets the longest sentence ever imposed for her offense.

Scott Shackford | 8.24.2018 1:15 PM

Large image on homepages | Reason

Espionage Act

Reality Winner Accepts Harsh 5-Year Sentence for Leaking Russian Hacking Report

Would she have gotten a better deal if she hadn't been denied bail?

Scott Shackford | 6.28.2018 7:00 AM

Large image on homepages | STRINGER/REUTERS/Newscom

Whistleblowers

After a Year Stuck in Jail, Reality Winner to Accept Plea Deal for Leaking NSA Report on Russian Election Meddling

Our terrible federal espionage laws won't let her argue the leak served the public's interest.

Scott Shackford | 6.22.2018 3:45 PM

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