[paulpauper]

For example, Daniel Ellsberg, leaking Pentagon Papers - basically everyone now agrees that was legitimate whistleblowing as it proved leading government figures were lying through their teeth to the American public about the reality on the ground in Vietnam. In contrast, Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen were CIA and FBI employees who sold all kinds of secrets to the Soviet Union for several decades - pretty sure we can safely call that espionage.

I am surprised that Ellsberg was let off. I think Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen were punished because they betrayed their oaths and the material was more important or pertinent.

[ncmncm]

He wasn't let off. They knew they could not convict him.

Now they have things sewed up better. Pliant judges, extortion, secret charges, secret "evidence", secret "testimony".

[boomboomsubban]

They had all those things for Ellsberg, he was barred from presenting a defense and the judge admitted the administration attempted to bribe him.

His charges were dropped because the prosecution's gross misconduct and illegal evidence collection had become national news. Without Watergate, Ellsberg would have spent years in prison.