CRS Report for Congress
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress
Criminal Prohibitions on the Publication ofClassified Defense Information
Jennifer K. Elsea
Legislative AttorneyDecember 6, 2010
Congressional Research Service
7-5700www.crs.govR41404
Criminal Prohibitions on the Publication of Classified Defense InformationCongressional Research Service
Summary
The recent online publication of classified defense documents and diplomatic cables by theorganization WikiLeaks and subsequent reporting by the
New York Times
and other news mediahave focused attention on whether such publication violates U.S. criminal law. The AttorneyGeneral has reportedly stated that the Justice Department and Department of Defense areinvestigating the circumstances to determine whether any prosecutions will be undertaken inconnection with the disclosure.This report identifies some criminal statutes that may apply, but notes that these have been usedalmost exclusively to prosecute individuals with access to classified information (and acorresponding obligation to protect it) who make it available to foreign agents, or to foreignagents who obtain classified information unlawfully while present in the United States. Leaks of classified information to the press have only rarely been punished as crimes, and we are aware of no case in which a publisher of information obtained through unauthorized disclosure by agovernment employee has been prosecuted for publishing it. There may be First Amendmentimplications that would make such a prosecution difficult, not to mention political ramificationsbased on concerns about government censorship. To the extent that the investigation implicatesany foreign nationals whose conduct occurred entirely overseas, any resulting prosecution maycarry foreign policy implications related to the exercise of extraterritorial jurisdiction and whethersuspected persons may be extradited to the United States under applicable treaty provisions.This report will discuss the statutory prohibitions that may be implicated, including the EspionageAct; the extraterritorial application of such statutes; and the First Amendment implications relatedto such prosecutions against domestic or foreign media organizations and associated individuals.The report will also provide a summary of pending legislation relevant to the issue, including S.4004.
Criminal Prohibitions on the Publication of Classified Defense InformationCongressional Research Service
Contents
Background................................................................................................................................1
Statutory Protection of Classified Information.............................................................................4
The Espionage Act................................................................................................................4
Other Statutes.......................................................................................................................7
Analysis................................................................................................................................8
Jurisdictional Reach of Relevant Statutes....................................................................................9
Extradition Issues......................................................................................................................11
Constitutional Issues.................................................................................................................14
Proposed Legislation.................................................................................................................20
Conclusion................................................................................................................................21
Contacts
Author Contact Information......................................................................................................21
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WIKILEAKS - LEAKS TO THE PRESS OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION RARELY PROSECUTED
classified information is rarely prosecuted if leaked to the press. this contains some potential criminal statutes which MAY apply
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Last Updated: 5:53 PM, December 5, 2010
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NEWSCORE
Last Updated: 5:53 PM, December 5, 2010
Posted: 1:09 PM, December 5, 2010
Comments: 102
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