Take Action: Tell Congress Whistleblowers & Journalists Aren’t Spies!

 

For over 100 years, the Espionage Act has threatened free speech. It’s become the government’s go to weapon against whistleblowers and may become their weapon of choice against journalists they don’t like. But two bills before Congress would help change that.  Tell Congress to defend whistleblowers and journalists from Espionage Act abuse! Take Action! While Pentagon Papers whistleblowers Daneil Ellsberg and Anthony Russo were the first people indicted under the Espionage Act for giving information to the media, this weapon lay mostly dormant for decades. The Obama Administration normalized the act of prosecuting whistleblowers under the Espionage Act. The Trump Administration has expanded this war on whistleblowers and gone even further, using the Espionage Act to prosecute WikiLeakers founder Julian Assange  for publishing information about US war crimes. This is the the first time it’s been used against a publisher of truthful information. Tell Congress they must take action to end Espionage Act Abuse. Thankfully, there are two bills before Congress that would help to remedy this situation. The Protect Brave Whistleblowers Act (HR 8452), introduced by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), and the Espionage Act Reform Act (HR 6114), introduced by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR). Together, they are important first steps in reining in the Espionage Act. Whistleblowers indicted under the Espionage Act are denied a fair trial and H.R. 8452 would remedy this by forcing the government to prove someone acted with the intent to harm national security or aid a foreign power in order to secure a conviction under the Espionage Act. It would create an affirmative public interest defense and make sure the accused has the right to testify as the purpose of their disclosure.  H.R.6114 addresses the urgent threat the Espionage Act poses to our free press. Journalists who publish truthful information should not be prosecuted for espionage. H.R.6114 amends the Espionage Act to clarify it only covers those with security clearances or foreign agents, meaning journalists could not be prosecuted under it. Whistleblowers and journalists are not spies. Yet, our government tries them under the Espionage Act for informing you about the government’s abuses of power. It’s time to end this practice. Passing the Protect Brave Whistleblowers Act and Espionage Act Reform Act would be an important first step in doing so. Tell Congress to defend whistleblowers and journalists from Espionage Act abuse! Take Action! And last night, Defending Rights & Dissent was joined by Kevin Gosztola, managing editor of Shadowproof, for an update on the Julian Assange UK extradition hearings. Kevin has been attending Assange’s hearings (first in person and now with COVID virtually) and reporting on them daily. Assange’s extradition wrapped up on October 1st and a decision is expected after the US election in November. You can check out the conversation here. Watch The Conversation