If Trump isn't a spy, why is he being charged under the Espionage Act?

[Social Media]

In more than 100 years since its passage, few of the many cases brought under the US Espionage Act relate to what most people think of as espionage - individuals actually spying on behalf of a foreign nation.

Since becoming the first ex-US president to face federal charges, including 31 Espionage Act violations, an emerging Republican defence of Donald Trump is to argue that he should not be charged under the act because he is not a foreign spy.

"You may hate his guts, but he is not a spy; he did not commit espionage," said South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio echoed that defence, saying Mr Trump did not conspire with America's enemies to harm national security.

"There's no allegation that he sold it to a foreign power or that it was trafficked to somebody else or that anybody got access to it," said Mr Rubio.

[simple1]

“In this case, former President Trump hasn't been charged with spying for a foreign government, or espionage as we normally think about it, but he has been charged with willfully withholding national defense information – which is the way that a case like this is normally charged,”

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/13/politics/espionage-act-trump-what-matters/index.html#:~:text=“In this case%2C former President,normally charged%2C” Cordero said.

 

In any case Trump is his own worst enemy. He had complied with lawful requests he wouldn't be in the position he now finds himself.

Edited June 15, 2023 by metisdead
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[sirineou]

Are you suggesting that Special counsel Jack Smith has not read the Espionage Act of 1917 and subsequent amendments and is erroneously charging trump? 

What a rube he must be !!  

I suggest you read the espionage act, your answer is there. Perhaps you can send a message to Mr. Smith , (if indeed that' his real name) and save him some embarshment. 

 

[bamnutsak]

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/793

 

Nothing in the code about "being a spy".

 

 

Recent Espionage act charges...I think Edward Snowden stands charged as well?

 

Former NSA Employee Sentenced to Prison for Willful Retention of Classified National Defense Information

 

Nghia Hoang Pho, 68, of Ellicott City, Maryland, and a naturalized U.S. citizen originally of Vietnam, was sentenced today to 66 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for willful retention of classified national defense information.  According to court documents, Pho removed massive troves of highly classified national defense information without authorization and kept it at his home.

 

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-nsa-employee-sentenced-prison-willful-retention-classified-national-defense

 

 

Federal Government Contractor Sentenced for Removing and Transmitting Classified Materials to a News Outlet

Reality Winner, 26, of Augusta, Georgia, was sentenced today to five years and three months in prison for removing classified national defense material from a government facility and mailing it to a news outlet.  Winner was arrested by the FBI at her home in Augusta, on June 3, 2017.  The parties filed a plea agreement on June 21, in which Winner agreed to plead guilty to the one-count indictment charging her with unlawful retention and transmission of national defense information.  The parties agreed that a sentence of imprisonment for 63 months followed by a three-year term of supervised release is the appropriate disposition of the case.  The Court accepted the plea agreement at sentencing.

 

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-government-contractor-sentenced-removing-and-transmitting-classified-materials-news

[ozimoron]

Handing national defense secrets to unknown people is spying, what are they talking about? Trump previously gave the Russians secret info in a meeting with Lavrov.

Edited June 15, 2023 by ozimoron

[ThailandRyan]

3 hours ago, Social Media said:

Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio echoed that defence, saying Mr Trump did not conspire with America's enemies to harm national security.

"There's no allegation that he sold it to a foreign power or that it was trafficked to somebody else or that anybody got access to it," said Mr Rubio.

Maybe that is one of the unknowns as far as the prosecution goes.  They may have that Ace up there sleeve and have information and proof that he did sell the info......only time will tell when the trial starts and the discovery process starts.  Trumps lawyers right now only know what's in the indictment as well as all of us.  Until the day when the indictments evidence is shared all these republicans should, for now put a sock in it, as well as all of the media and so on.

[sirineou]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

"You may hate his guts, but he is not a spy; he did not commit espionage," said South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

lindsey graham is a boot licker.!! When senator McCain looked like he might become president he was McCain's best friend, Then  when trump looked like he would get the nomination,even though trump was making going after McCain lindsey dumpt  McCain and started blowing trump. 

linsey is making a straw man argument , trump is  being charged for Violation of the Espionage Act, which includes acts other than spying for a foreign goverment, conspiracy to obstruct justice,and making false statements to investigators.I guarantee you ,Jack Smith , and his team of top lawyers are not about to commit professional suicide by bringing up charges that do not apply , or have sufficient evidence to support his case.

In addition a Grand Jury has heard the evidence and has recommended indictment. This Grand Jury was selected randomly and I am sure contained many republicans .   

[AAArdvark]

Because the act doesn't only cover spying.  Just mishandling classified documents is also covered.  In my may years in the business, I know that if I seriously mishandled just one sheet of paper, I would have been immediately fired and escorted out of the building.  

[zzaa09]

The deep state does what it wants, all the while manufacturing consent. 

This is the way it's been for ages.

[bendejo]

1 hour ago, ozimoron said:

Handing national defense secrets to unknown people is spying, what are they talking about? Trump previously gave the Russians secret info in a meeting with Lavrov.

US intelligence caught him giving secret stuff to Lavrov, they got him John LeCarre style.  Gotta be tough working conditions when the president is a national security risk.

Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio being quoted?  You guys are kidding, right? 

 

Edited June 15, 2023 by bendejo