Posted on 11/30/2010 10:51:23 AM PST by lbryce
Federal authorities are investigating whether WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange violated criminal laws in the group's release of government documents, including possible charges under the Espionage Act, sources familiar with the inquiry said Monday.
Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said the Justice Department and Pentagon are conducting "an active, ongoing criminal investigation.'' Others familiar with the probe said the FBI is examining everyone who came into possession of the documents, including those who gave the materials to WikiLeaks and also the organization itself. No charges are imminent, the sources said, and it is unclear whether any will be brought.
Former prosecutors cautioned that prosecutions involving leaked classified information are difficult because the Espionage Act is a 1917 statute that preceded Supreme Court cases that expanded First Amendment protections. The government also would have to persuade another country to turn over Assange, who is outside the United States.
But the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the inquiry is rapidly unfolding, said charges could be filed under the act. The U.S. attorney's office in Alexandria - which in 2005 brought Espionage Act charges, now dropped, against two former pro-Israel lobbyists - is involved in the effort, the sources said.
The Pentagon is leading the investigation and it remains unclear whether any additional charges would be brought in the military or civilian justice systems. Pfc. Bradley Manning, an Army intelligence analyst suspected of being the source of the WikiLeaks documents, was arrested by the military this year.
Holder was asked Monday how the United States could prosecute Assange, who is an Australian citizen. "Let me be very clear," he replied. "It is not saber rattling.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
The birth Certificate is his get out of jail card. You’d think that if there were any official electronic briefs on the subject, that he’s got them?
This administration knew well all about the outcome...they are just continuing the game playing on the world stage....the end result is nations peoples do not matter to the governing authorities...they are simply a means to fill their coffers and political lifestyle ambitions on a global level....it is all beyond the rule of law now....rather who can stay on top long enough to maintain their place when the world shifts to International Governance and who will hold the highest seats of power.
Creating worldwide upheaval over these leaks is as deliberate as Paulsons moves before the Senate on our Economy in 08. They got away with that, and on an international scale....this is just part of the program to take the nations populace under International rule.
It was found Constitutional (unanimously!) shortly after it was enacted.
Subsequent decisions have cast doubt on it, but none overruled it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espionage_Act_of_1917#The_Act_in_the_courts
Can somebody explain to me why we conservatives allow these foreigners to run around and bring our country down?
We got Assange meddling in out affairs and giving away state secrets.
It seems every other liberal talking head on TV is a foreigner giving their expertize on how stupid we are.
Our pop culture is saturated with foreigners abusing us and ridiculing us,
We got all these podunk terrorists running around trying to blow up airplanes and destroy our cities.
And we got hundreds of thousands of illegals taking to the streets and making demands to give then citizenship when their first encounter with the United States is to defy our laws.
How much longer are we going to tolerate the foreign emasculation of our country?
P.s. on my post....Does make one wonder who is really stirring the pot doesn’t it?
Then...HANG HIS ASS!
what a joke!
“Pfc. Bradley Manning, an Army intelligence analyst suspected of being the source of the WikiLeaks documents, was arrested by the military this year. “
We have had him since MAY ... where are the indictments of his co-conspirators?!? What took so long?
And why didnt we take down the website already?
I AM TOTALLY GLAD THAT HE IS RELEASING THESE DOCS AND HOPE HE SHINES THE LIGHT ON ALL OF THESE COCK-ROACHES
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I’m sort of liking all this stuff coming out...we already knew or suspected so there’s satisfaction in confirmation. Looking forward to learning more.
Easier to have him accidently cut himself shaving and bleed to death ... it’ll be odd since he uses an electric shaver, but no more odd than that former terrorist who commited suicide in Baghdad under Saddam’s regime - yup, suicide, with 5 bullets in the back.
I agree...
The information being released does absolutely nothing to harm the “conservative” cause, in fact, this info will AID us in our efforts if used correctly against appropriate targets.
Poetic ... and true!
But dont discount our ability to get him. Go after him. Hound him. Never let go. People mock sending the lawyers, but guess what, we are good at that. This guy could live a miserable existence spending his life in European courts fending our lawyers off. Worth every penny.
And for Christmas, a lovely flacon of “Man-Glo,” the new polonium-210-laced aftershave lotion and skin tonic.
“How much longer are we going to tolerate the foreign emasculation of our country?”
Until November 2012? I can’t see a sooner turnaround to this state of events.
He “could” have been charged 6 months ago. That he has not indicates the Feds consider him a partner.
As I said I am loving it.
Who is the traitor?
Treasonous? How is that?
There have been previous leaks and nothing was done. We were warned for weeks that the latest leaks were coming, nothing done. Why would we expect these incompetent, boobish peacocks to do anything now? I contend this is all part of the “fundamental change” promised by Obama. Good-bye Republic, hello communism.
Now that would be one way to do it ... order it special from a Moscow mail order house.
From Russia with love.
He did not get this stuff by himself... He had to have had inside help... from Americans. So I guess, technically, he cannot be tried for treason, since he is not American; but those Americans found to be in his circle of contacts sure as hell can and should be tried for treason, espionage, and anything else we can use to get their asses dropped from a scaffold.
In any case... If it were up to me, I’d shoot them all on sight, no questions asked.
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