Australian citizen being passed secrets from an American serviceman and then released. So how is this spying or espionage? If someone here was passed secrets from France would France then charge you? I think they’re clutching at straws. Now the NYT, there’s an outfit that needs some slapping down.
In the same way that any foreign agency commits espionage by coercing citizens to give up secrets.
Behind every Aldrich Ames (for example) is a foreign agent who pays for or threatens to get the secrets and use them against our country.
Assange isn't just some innocent guy who has a website, he is a very famous hacker who goes by the handle Mendax. He had a history of breaking into the NSA in the 90s- a book was written about him and he had a mention in the movie Hackers 2. It is often asked how Manning was able to get the secrets he did- I have no doubt that he was just a conduit for Assange's hacking.
“If someone here was passed secrets from France would France then charge you?”
Yes. Especially if you made them public.
Why should the responsibility stop with the thief and not also the fence?
In most US spy cases the recipient has claimed diplo immunity or never was found.
The case against Manuel Noriega was equally flimsy.
My thought too.
The soldier that ‘stole’ the secrets can be prosecuted for espionage and even treason (possibly). Which he is in a military court.
However, I don’t believe a journalist (and I use the term loosely with Assange) would have 1st Amendments rights under freedom of speech. He received the information from a ‘source’ who is in custody.
We do not have a ‘Alien Sedition Act’ (as was the case in our history) nor would the Patriot Act apply here. The Espionage Act of 1917 might work, however it could possibly end free press in the US as ALL news organizations would now be liable under this Act.
The question is, would the US government start bringing down news organizations (i.e., NY Times comes to mind)? What news would there be then, the White House Press Secretary only.
The other big question is how would we ever get him to the US to prosecute. Extradition is a tool but will whatever nation that he is in (i.e., Britain right now) give him too us? Sweden didn’t do to well with the Brit judge on their turn at bat to hold him. The US failed miserably with Polanski just recently.
Just lots of questions and I think ramifications and results that need to be looked at closely. The service member need to be executed though .. if found guilty. Still waiting on this too.