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In reply to the discussion: Fed Court: Just changed interpretation of Espionage Act to cover leaks that are NOT Harmful To USA [View all]muriel_volestrangler
(101,262 posts)97. 'Double standard' in White House leak inquiries?
From 2010:
In the first 12 pages of his new book, Obamas Wars, famed journalist Bob Woodward reveals a wealth of eye-popping details from a highly classified briefing that Mike McConnell, then-director of National Intelligence, gave to President-elect Barack Obama just two days after the November 2008 election.
Among the disclosures: the code names of previously unknown National Security Agency programs, the existence of a clandestine paramilitary army run by the CIA in Afghanistan, and details of a secret Chinese cyberpenetration of Obama and John McCain campaign computers.
...
The issue: How can they credibly prosecute mid-level bureaucrats and junior military officers for leaking classified information to the press when so many high-level officials have dished far more sensitive secrets to Woodward?
That question is especially timely right now as the Pentagon braces for what it expects will be the publication of 500,000 Iraq war documents by WikiLeaks , the web site whose disclosures of classified documents have provoked howls of outrage from administration officials and criminal investigations. And it was posed directly in federal court last week by Abbe Lowell, the prominent Washington criminal defense lawyer, who is representing Stephen Jin-Woo Kim, a senior analyst at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and former State Department contractor. Kim was indicted in August on charges he leaked classified information about North Koreas nuclear intentions to James Rosen, a correspondent for FOX News.
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/39693850/ns/us_news-security/
Among the disclosures: the code names of previously unknown National Security Agency programs, the existence of a clandestine paramilitary army run by the CIA in Afghanistan, and details of a secret Chinese cyberpenetration of Obama and John McCain campaign computers.
...
The issue: How can they credibly prosecute mid-level bureaucrats and junior military officers for leaking classified information to the press when so many high-level officials have dished far more sensitive secrets to Woodward?
That question is especially timely right now as the Pentagon braces for what it expects will be the publication of 500,000 Iraq war documents by WikiLeaks , the web site whose disclosures of classified documents have provoked howls of outrage from administration officials and criminal investigations. And it was posed directly in federal court last week by Abbe Lowell, the prominent Washington criminal defense lawyer, who is representing Stephen Jin-Woo Kim, a senior analyst at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and former State Department contractor. Kim was indicted in August on charges he leaked classified information about North Koreas nuclear intentions to James Rosen, a correspondent for FOX News.
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/39693850/ns/us_news-security/
The answer, of course, is that it was Bob Fucking Woodward, who is untouchable, and Mike Fucking McConnell, vice chairman of Booz Allen Hamilton, who is also untouchable. They can leak whatever they want, if it helps sell Woodward's book.
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Fed Court: Just changed interpretation of Espionage Act to cover leaks that are NOT Harmful To USA [View all]
kpete
Jul 2013
OP
And people wonder why Whistle Blowers are now seeking political asylum elsewhere.
sabrina 1
Jul 2013
#56
One circuit disagrees with another and you think this means the Republic will
msanthrope
Jul 2013
#21
Wait a second--Stephen Kim is not press. He has no civil right to leak documents
msanthrope
Jul 2013
#65
Different circuits, different rulings. Let's hope there's an appeal and SCOTUS
msanthrope
Jul 2013
#19
As opposed the Rhenquist one? All the more reason make sure the person picking
msanthrope
Jul 2013
#68
What you've described is the reality of "system maintenance" JDPriestly. n/t
bobthedrummer
Jul 2013
#70
The government must be doing a lot of shit they really don't want us to know about.
winter is coming
Jul 2013
#24
And, look at these Rulings-A bit of a mixed bag with her. Wiki isn't always complete
KoKo
Jul 2013
#63
"This needs to be fixed NOW, because it sure won't get better under the next Republican executive."
Vanje
Jul 2013
#84
Since the executive branch uses the threat of prosecution under the Espionage Act to
JDPriestly
Jul 2013
#39
If it weren't for the Snowden case, would we even know about this now?
Waiting For Everyman
Jul 2013
#45
Well, yes. Jonathan Pollard is no less guilty because he gave material to an ally. nt
msanthrope
Jul 2013
#67
Requiring the Government to prove stuff is like UnAmerican and stuff.
kenny blankenship
Jul 2013
#87