Angkor disagreed with you upthread. Is either of you an attorney with experience in this practice area?
I used to protect classified material for a living, but I'm not an attorney.
I know that the significant case on this is Daniel Ellsberg publishing the Pentagon Papers, and I believe he got off.
Here's the fact: our secrets laws are effectively toothless, and the reason why is every time something does go to trial, the moron in question gets a slap on the wrist.
John Deutsch should be in jail somewhere for emailing all kinds of classified material in the clear over an unprotected network to an non-secure terminal in his HOME for the purpose of writing a book (memoires).
Sandy Burgler is in that same category. Both got pats on the back, and sent to bed without dinner.
Angkor is likely to be right on whatever he was saying as a practical matter, but the Espionage Act is pretty clear that any disclosure who knowingly discloses materials they know to be classified is subject to a fine of $10K, and/or jail up to 10 years for EACH DISCLOSURE.
No exceptions for the press.
Whaddya hear nina?