Category Archives: espionage act

Snowden agrees to forfeit $5 million from ‘Permanent Record’ and speeches

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Former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden has agreed to give up the proceeds from his book “Permanent Record” and the speeches he gave after leaking secret documents in 2013, under a deal reached with U.S. prosecutors. The Sept. 18 filing in a Virginia federal court would result in the forfeiture of more than $4 million that Snowden earned from the book, as well as $1 million from public appearances made from 2014 onward. A judge had ruled in late 2019 that in publishing the book and speaking about his leaks without pre-approval from the U.S. government, Snowden had violated his secrecy agreements with the CIA and NSA. The government has pursued the civil suit against Snowden as part of broader efforts to hold him to account for his unlawful disclosure of classified NSA surveillance programs in 2013. The government’s criminal case against him includes allegations that he violated the Espionage Act. […]

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Julian Assange accused of conspiring with Anonymous and LulzSec in superseding US indictment

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The U.S. government has broadened its criminal case against Julian Assange in an indictment unsealed Wednesday that accuses the WikiLeaks founder of collaborating with hackers affiliated with the Anonymous and LulzSec hacking groups
The new superseding… Continue reading Julian Assange accused of conspiring with Anonymous and LulzSec in superseding US indictment→

U.S. Charges Huawei with Stealing Trade Secrets from 6 Companies

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The US Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) charged Huawei with racketeering and conspiring to steal trade secrets from six US firms, in a significant escalation of a lawsuit against the Chinese telecom giant that b… Continue reading U.S. Charges Huawei with Stealing Trade Secrets from 6 Companies→

Judge rules proceeds from Snowden memoir belong to U.S. government

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A federal judge ruled Tuesday that any money former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden makes from his memoir or paid speeches must be given to the U.S. government because he did not receive approvals before the book was published. The judge notes in his decision that Snowden’s nondisclosure agreements with the government were unambiguous and required him to submit any writings for prepublication review. The book, “Permanent Record,” went on sale Sept. 17 from Metropolitan Books. “Snowden’s publication of Permanent Record without prior submission for prepublication review breached the CIA and NSA Secrecy agreement and the attendant fiduciary duties set forth in those agreements,” Judge Liam O’Grady writes. The civil suit against Snowden is the latest effort the U.S. government has undertaken to hold Snowden to account for his unlawful disclosure of classified NSA surveillance programs in 2013. Snowden also faces assorted criminal charges, including alleged violation the Espionage Act, which were […]

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Accused Vault7 leaker argues Espionage Act charges are unconstitutional

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A former Central Intelligence Agency employee accused of providing U.S. secrets to WikiLeaks is asking a judge to toss some of the key charges against him, asserting they are unconstitutional. A defense attorney for Joshua Schulte filed a motion on Tuesday asking a judge in the U.S. Southern District of New York to dismiss five charges prosecutors brought against Schulte under the Espionage Act and federal larceny law because they “are unconstitutionally overbroad and void for vagueness.” The Department of Justice charged Schulte in June 2018 in connection with leaking a collection of CIA hacking tools used for cyber-espionage to WikiLeaks, which published much of the data under the name “Vault 7.” Schulte also has been accused of possessing child pornography, smuggling cell phones into his Manhattan jail cell, plotting a disinformation campaign to discredit his accusers and other wrongdoing as part of a years-long legal battle that’s only poised […]

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U.S. Charges WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange With Violating Espionage Act

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The United States Justice Department has unveiled charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with 17 new counts on the alleged violation of the Espionage Act by publishing classified information through WikiLeaks website.

If convicted for all co… Continue reading U.S. Charges WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange With Violating Espionage Act→

Two decades later, ex-NSA contractor pleads guilty to stealing classified data

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A former US government contractor is facing nine years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of willful retention of national defense information. This is more than 20 years after the crime, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Harold Th… Continue reading Two decades later, ex-NSA contractor pleads guilty to stealing classified data→