I think Ellsberg was emboldened by skating on his earlier infractions. What he's messing with here is a whole new ballgame though.
He is in essense working within a group to urge current government employees to ignore their top level security clearances, to commit crimes.
If this isn't a conspiracy, or at the very least subverion, I'd be surprised.
Ellsberg is an attorney, but he sure seems out on the tip of a limb as far as I am concerned.
They clearly know they are encouraging people to commit crimes, or they wouldn't be stressing the pro bono ACLU work so much.
By the way, it's noted in their press releases that this ACLU offer covers both Ellsberg's operation and McGovern's VIPS.
But you are absolutely right. They encouraging people to break the law. I'm sure it is illegal in a number of ways.
But as I've said, they will probably be ignored until something God awful happens. Then they will be squashed like the cockroaches they are.