What should happen to people who intentionally leak secret government documents?

[HoneyNut]

He must be awfully young to think that telling a group of people secrets, they won't spread the info.

I don't know what the penalty is, but superficially it sounds like he didn't do it to intentionally cause harm, so if secret-leaking has levels like killing people does, I guess it would be manslaughter level secret-leaking.

That is probably going to be a pretty bad punishment though, because one place I worked a man left his briefcase unattended outside the bathroom door and the company sent us all an email that the guy's salary was being reducing 3 thousand dollars a year (this was in the 1980s, I'm not sure what dollars today are equivalent).

 

[Chet]

He has committed treason. In times of war he would be executed.

 

[Alligatorob]

I fixed the first comment.

What I meant was that we don't consider the damage done by a thief, stealing $100 from a rich man will get you the same penalty as stealing it from a poor man. But I can see I wasn't very clear.

I agree the need of the thief is no defense.

 

[Pecos]

so you saying its ok to sell secrets,because if there was a deterent no one would join the military?,,,they shot deserters in the war,folks still join up

No I absolutely do not think it is OK.

 

[IKE]

If Jack Teixeira is proven guilty....firing squad.

Agree with the death penalty but why waste a good bullet ?......you can reuse a rope.

 

[ElCastor]

so you saying its ok to sell secrets,because if there was a deterent no one would join the military?,,,they shot deserters in the war,folks still join up

Maybe shoot, but we have courts, trials, and laws to determine punishment, not this forum, and by the way I don’t think he sold anything. I‘m with Pecos on this one. Lock him up and give him a trial. Let the law, or regulations, determine the punishment - which I hope is severe - very severe.

 

[Alligatorob]

not this forum

Why not? We are pretty good and deciding people guilty and often with out the time and expense of collecting evidence!

 

[Della]

scroll down for the video of him being arrested..

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...sponsible-Pentagon-secret-documents-leak.html

I agree he should be punished (not death) and it was a very serious crime... however.

That picture cracks me up!

Most men put on their most serious face to pose for their military photos. My husband was in 22 years with special top secret clearance and all his pictures look the same. I call it his "serious business" face.

But this guy? He's smiling, his eyes are twinkling and everything about him says, "I'm going to tell secrets to impress girls!"
We should have known.

 

[Lewkat]

Private Eddie Slovik was hanged for being a traitor during WWII. His offense? He begged to be reassigned to a non-combatant job, such as a messenger or a cook, so he wouldn't have to shoot a young kid on the opposing side. He even got lost while on a messenger assignment and found another army group where he assisted with cooking.

Slovik was a 25-year-old who had a couple of young children at home, and due to past trouble with the law as a teenager, he was assured he would never be called up to serve in the military. It so happened, that rule was changed during WWII.

He did not refuse to serve, but simply requested another assignment. It went as high as Gen. Eisenhower, who agree he was to receive the death penalty.

So, when it comes to protecting our nation from the likes of this guy, the Snowdens and countless others, I don't hesitate to deem them traitors to the fullest extent. Teixeira was caught hands down, so he pays the price.

If you haven't been in the military and know how important certain it is to maintain high security documents secret, I suggest you do some serious research into the issue at hand.

 

[Lewkat]

Because the govt does and continues to spy on its own citizens? Well, I can guess why you wouldn't want THAT disclosed.

This isn't about our government spying on its own citizens. Why don't you research this issue?

 

[Alligatorob]

Eddie Slovik

I agree Slovik should probably not have been executed. But it was under unique circumstances, in France during the Battle of the Bulge with thousands of soldiers being killed. Desertion was a problem and I think Eisenhower wanted an example made. It was within the legal range of possible punishments for what Slovik did.

Here is the note Slovik wrote at the time, I think its clear why he was chosen as an example:

I, Pvt. Eddie D. Slovik, 36896415, confess to the desertion of the United States Army. At the time of my desertion we were in Albuff [sic; "Elbeuf"] in France. I came to Albuff as a replacement. They were shilling [sic; "shelling"] the town and we were told to dig in for the night. The following morning they were shilling us again. I was so scared[,] nerves [sic; "nervous"] and trembling that at the time the other replacements moved out I couldn't move. I stayed their [sic; "there"] in my fox hole till it was quite [sic; "quiet"] and I was able to move. I then walked into town. Not seeing any of our troops so I stayed over night at a French hospital. The next morning I turned myself over to the Canadian Provost Corp [sic; "Corps"]. After being with them six weeks I was turned over to American M.R[.] [sic; "military police"] They turned me lose [sic]. I told my commanding officer my story. I said that if I had to go out their again Id [sic; "I'd"] run away. He said there was nothing he could do for me so I ran away again AND I'LL RUN AWAY AGAIN IF I HAVE TO GO OUT THEIR[sic; "THERE"].

— Signed PvI. [sic] Eddie D. Slovik A.S.N. 36896415

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Slovik

 

[SeniorBen]

Private Eddie Slovik was hanged for being a traitor during WWII. His offense? He begged to be reassigned to a non-combatant job, such as a messenger or a cook, so he wouldn't have to shoot a young kid on the opposing side. He even got lost while on a messenger assignment and found another army group where he assisted with cooking.

Slovik was a 25-year-old who had a couple of young children at home, and due to past trouble with the law as a teenager, he was assured he would never be called up to serve in the military. It so happened, that rule was changed during WWII.

He did not refuse to serve, but simply requested another assignment. It went as high as Gen. Eisenhower, who agree he was to receive the death penalty.

So, when it comes to protecting our nation from the likes of this guy, the Snowdens and countless others, I don't hesitate to deem them traitors to the fullest extent. Teixeira was caught hands down, so he pays the price.

If you haven't been in the military and know how important certain it is to maintain high security documents secret, I suggest you do some serious research into the issue at hand.

What you wrote isn't consistent with the facts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Slovik

EDIT: Looks like Rob beat me to it.

 

[Shalimar]

I find some of the responses on this thread far more alarming than the topic at hand.

 

[Jace]

Agree with the death penalty but why waste a good bullet ?......you can reuse a rope.

View attachment 279887

Was gonna saythis.

 

[Shalimar]

Private Eddie Slovik was hanged for being a traitor during WWII. His offense? He begged to be reassigned to a non-combatant job, such as a messenger or a cook, so he wouldn't have to shoot a young kid on the opposing side. He even got lost while on a messenger assignment and found another army group where he assisted with cooking.

Slovik was a 25-year-old who had a couple of young children at home, and due to past trouble with the law as a teenager, he was assured he would never be called up to serve in the military. It so happened, that rule was changed during WWII.

He did not refuse to serve, but simply requested another assignment. It went as high as Gen. Eisenhower, who agree he was to receive the death penalty.

So, when it comes to protecting our nation from the likes of this guy, the Snowdens and countless others, I don't hesitate to deem them traitors to the fullest extent. Teixeira was caught hands down, so he pays the price.

If you haven't been in the military and know how important certain it is to maintain high security documents secret, I suggest you do some serious research into the issue at hand

With respect, not all military ascribe to your viewpoint. Many of my clients are combat veterans, deployed multiple times into hot spots. Some are highly

decorated, some have dual American/Canadian citizenship. Several of these individuals support both Snowden, and Chelsea Manning. They view them as whistleblowers rather than traitors.

 

[Muskrat]

He should be court marshaled , tried then sentenced to prison. The caveat being losing his citizenship and any direct descendent citizenship. Send him to north korea.

 

[DaveA]

When those further up the food chain get away with breaking the law regarding classified documents, perhaps the little guys think it is okay for them to do it too.

Good question. Is it only a serious Crime for those at lower levels of government? Some who call for this kid to be shot have seemed to have a more casual opinion regarding recent careless use/treatment of classified/secret documents by individuals further up the food chain?

Shouldn't the penalty be the same? Probably neither is a "traitor" but used poor judgement in their behaviors

 

[Been There]

Does anyone "live a good life" in Russia? He will always be a fugitive, unless we figure out how to catch him one day... and I think that day may come. The next regime in Russia may be more friendly to the US, or he may make the mistake of traveling to the wrong country...

Why do you think? We don't adjust criminal penalties for theft based on how much the victim needed what was stolen.

In reality the offenders in these cases often have no idea how much damage they are causing, and since a lot of the information is secret we often never know either. Any release of this kind of information could put lives at risk. The law is the law, break it at your own risk.

I could tell you a story about “Eddie” that would make your toes curl.

 

[Been There]

I think he should go to jail for years but shooting him would be a disaster. If that were done, imagine how hard it would be for the military or the government to ever recruit anyone into any field requiring a clearance.

And by the way, how do we know he wasn’t set up? Any of the scammers that are good at collecting anyone’s sign on to a website could sign in as that person, but be someone else. Or if you really want to get dicey, maybe it’s a bot.

 

[Alligatorob]

I could tell you a story about “Eddie” that would make your toes curl.

Go ahead, curl our toes!

And by the way, how do we know he wasn’t set up?

We don't that's what the trial is for. Obviously he only deserves punishment if guilty.

 

[Disgustedman]

This isn't about our government spying on its own citizens. Why don't you research this issue?

I was responding to another's comment. I guess some people get lost easily.

 

[Been There]

Go ahead, curl our toes!

We don't that's what the trial is for. Obviously he only deserves punishment if guilty.

You have no idea what you’re asking of me. Let’s just drop it. I’m not taking the bait.

 

[Pecos]

And by the way, how do we know he wasn’t set up? Any of the scammers that are good at collecting anyone’s sign on to a website could sign in as that person, but be someone else. Or if you really want to get dicey, maybe it’s a bot.

That is why this needs to go to trial where the facts can come out. We are a nation of laws and not vigilante justice as many on this thread have suggested.

 

[Pecos]

I find some of the responses on this thread far more alarming than the topic at hand.

Some of them are over the top and tend to forget that we try to be a nation of laws with due process.

 

[Disgustedman]

I don't know what the penalty is, but superficially it sounds like he didn't do it to intentionally cause harm, so if secret-leaking has levels like killing people does, I guess it would be manslaughter level secret-leaking.

I'm pretty sure since he posted them online, it's not a simple "Hey, did ya hear what so and so said"

Had he simply posted "Here's what I read" then there's room for "Hey kid, shut up and mop the hall as punishment" posting actual information, that's Snowdens job.