[ChrisBoundsTX]

I certainly back the freedom of press, regardless of the content disclosed. What I am challenging is the publishing of stolen documents. If I were to sell or distribute stolen material I would be arrested or sued. Depending on if I did it knowingly or not I could face heavy fines and even jail time. Why does that not apply here?

[pnh102]

What I am challenging is the publishing of stolen documents. If I were to sell or distribute stolen material I would be arrested or sued. Depending on if I did it knowingly or not I could face heavy fines and even jail time. Why does that not apply here?

It seems that in the case of government secrets, while all of these are stolen by the leaker, the courts have ruled that they are OK to publish. But yea, if you did this to a private entity it would be considered theft and you would be opening yourself to civil legal action.