Press-related prosecutions under the Espionage Act
Legal filings in Espionage Act prosecutions of individuals accused of disclosing information to the press and public
This Reading Room contains key court filings related to all Espionage Act prosecutions of those accused of disclosing information to the press or to the general public. Passed more than a century ago, the Espionage Act has long been used by the government to prosecute whistleblowers for disclosing information to the press. Recently, there has been an uptick in these prosecutions under the Obama and Trump administrations, which have charged more whistleblowers under the Espionage Act than all prior administrations combined. For an interactive graph and chart of all press-related prosecutions under the Espionage Act, click here.
Showing 61–70 of 176
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Appellate Ct. Op., United States v. Sterling, 860 F.3d 233 (4th Cir. 2017)
Fourth Circuit's opinion holding that the government failed to prove proper venue for one of Sterling's offenses—unauthorized disclosure to a reporter of a letter relating to a classified program—but otherwise affirming his convictions.
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Indictment re: Reality Winner, United States v. Winner, No. 1:17-cr-00034 (S.D. Ga. June 7, 2017)
Grand jury indictment charging Winner under Section 793(e) of the Espionage Act.
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Criminal Compl. re: Reality Winner, United States v. Winner, No. 1:17-cr-00034 (S.D. Ga. June 5, 2017)
Criminal complaint charging Winner under Section 793(e) of the Espionage Act.
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Amicus Br. (ACLU), United States v. Manning, No. Army 20130739 (U.S. Army Ct. Crim. App. May 18, 2016)
Amicus brief of the ACLU to the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals arguing the Espionage Act as it applies to whistleblowers and leakers is unconstitutionally vague, and that it violates the First Amendment where it forbids (as the court martial did) consideration of the public's interest in the classified information.
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Judgment re: Jeffrey Sterling, United States v. Sterling, No. 1:10-cr-00485 (E.D. Va. May 11, 2015)
Judgment noting Sterling was found guilty by jury and sentencing him to 42 months in prison.
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Tr. re: Sterling Sentencing Hearing, United States v. Sterling, 1:10-cr-00485 (E.D. Va. held May 11, 2015, filed May 15, 2015)
Transcript of Sterling's sentencing hearing.
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Jury Verdict Form, United States v. Sterling, No. 1:10-cr-00485 (E.D. Va. Jan. 26, 2015)
Jury verdict form finding Sterling guilty on all ten counts.
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Tr. re: Sterling Jury Trial (Vol. IX), United States v. Sterling, 1:10-cr-00485 (E.D. Va. held Jan. 26, 2015, filed Aug. 17, 2015)
Transcript of Sterling's jury trial (Vol. IX).
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Tr. re: Sterling Jury Trial (Vol. VIII), United States v. Sterling, 1:10-cr-00485 (E.D. Va. held Jan. 23, 2015, filed Aug. 17, 2015)
Transcript of Sterling's jury trial (Vol. VIII).
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Tr. re: Sterling Jury Trial (Vol. VII), United States v. Sterling, 1:10-cr-00485 (E.D. Va. held Jan. 22, 2015, filed Aug. 17, 2015)
Transcript of Sterling's jury trial (Vol. VII).