Passed as an amendment to the Espionage Act of 1917, the Sedition Act made it prosecutable by law to make false statements that interfered with the war effort, insult or abuse the U.S. Most espionage crimes are investigated by the CIA or FBI, making them matters of federal jurisdiction and resultant in federal charges. It was meant as a safeguard against spying.Īt the time those found guilty could be fined up to $10,000 and serve up to 20 years in jail, according the The History Channel. Enforced by President Woodrow Wilson's attorney general, the law made it illegal to share any information that could interfere with the war or stand to benefit foreign adversaries. The Espionage Act was passed to bolster the war effort. WHO IS ROGER STONE? What to know about the longtime Trump ally and Republican strategist What was the purpose of the Espionage Act ? In the headlines relating to the Trump Mar-A-Lago search, the section of the Espionage Act -which is itself a statute of 18 US Code Chapter 37- is 793.The concerns enumerated in 18 USC 793 are "gathering, transmitting or losing defense information." In its modern iteration, the act has been used to prosecute spies and leakers of classified information. Many significant chunks of the Espionage Act of 1917 remain in effect and can be used in the court of law. The Espionage Act of 1917, enacted just after the beginning of World War I, makes it illegal to obtain information, capture photographs or copy descriptions of any information relating to national defense, with the intent for that information to be used against the United States or for the gain of any foreign nation. UNSEALING THE DOCUMENTS: Palm Beach Post asking court to unseal 'entire' search warrant for Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago What is the Espionage Act? WHAT WE KNOW: What did the FBI look for – and find – when searching Trump's Mar-a-Lago home? In response, Kentucky senator Rand Paul took to Twitter on Saturday to call for the repeal of the Espionage Act.īut what is the Espionage Act in simple terms, and why was it created? The FBI has cited violations of the Espionage Act as a catalyst for its document seizure, and reported uncovering materials marked "top secret/SCI." Among them was a grant of clemency for famed Trump associate Roger Stone.Īfter unsealed documents revealed the FBI's findings and warrant for the search, Trump claimed he declassified all the documents prior to leaving office.įBI released documents that reveal the Justice Department is investigating Trump for violations of the Espionage Act, obstruction of justice and criminal handling of government records. An old piece of anti-spy legislation is back in the headlines after the FBI searched former President Donald Trump's Mar-A-Lago residence for classified materials they believe he took from the White House.
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