Espionage Act Violation Case Ends with a Misdemeanor Plea Agreement

The federal trial of a former NSA whistleblower accused of Espionage Act violations ended last Thursday with a misdemeanor plea agreement.  Thomas Drake, while employeed with the National Security Agency, publicly shared concerns about a NSA program that Drake believed violated privacy and fourth amendments protections.

The government responded by charging Drake with “mishandling classified documents,” an Espionage Act violation that could have put Drake in prison for up to thirty five years.  To examine the implications of this case, KBOO’s Chris Andrae spoke with Kathleen McClellan from the Government Accountability Project this morning.