4 ms·

Both.

• JumpCrisscross 7y ago
  To expand, he exposed war crimes. But he also exposed a bunch of unrelated, not-war-crime stuff due to his refusal to redact. Contrast that with e.g. Snowden or the Panama Papers leakers, who disclosed information more carefully.
  • maxlybbert 7y ago
    I don’t think you have to make the distinction. Espionage is espionage regardless of what you’re looking for or what you find. Having pure motives doesn’t matter. It is true those things could influence whether charges are filed, or pardons granted. IIRC, it’s the legal difference between an affirmative defense and simply being innocent.
    • JumpCrisscross 7y ago
      > Espionage is espionage regardless of what you’re looking for or what you find. Having pure motives doesn’t matter. The Espionage Act is framed within the confines of the Constitution, including the First Amendment. Being a journalist (i.e. taking an active role in curating and analyzing the materials) has historically mattered to the courts (e.g. around Deep Throat).