Subj : Re: IRS Testimony
To   : DALE SHIPP
From : Mike Powell
Date : Mon Jul 31 2023 09:12:00

> Those things would probably fall under the Espionage act, but it is not
> limited to that.  There are people who simply stockpiled classified
> documents with no intent to disperse them to anyone else.  They got
> serious charges.  They did *less* than what Trump has been accused of
> doing.

I have heard people claim that the recent case of the Pentagon employee who
got caught with documents is one where the perp "did less" but that is not
actually true.  His charges include trying to shop them around on the
Internet, which is not "less."

Recent cases where folks "did less" by stockpiling classified documents in
insecure locations (like their garages, law offices, etc.) and who were at
the time not covered by any Presidential authority have had no charges filed.

If Trump really did something, beyond careless storage, and that can be proven
beyond doubt, then he should get in trouble.  If it turns out to be a case
of carelessness and a misunderstanding regarding their return, thanks to
very recent precident, I don't see a case here either.

> You are not reading the entire act.  What you describe is part of the
> act, but there is more that does not involve transmitting to a foreign
> government.

> https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/793

There is some irony here... it was the Espionage Act that Eugene Debs was
accused of violating in 1918 (for an anti-war speach) that landed him in
jail for his 1920 Presidential run.

Since we've just been discussing him, I thought I would bring that up. ;)


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