Leiden University Student Repository

Weltje, Lowik Eduard (2023)

The Politics of Espionage Act Intelligence Prosecution Cases in the United States

Bachelor thesis | Security Studies (BSc)

This paper analyzes the extent to which political factors influence Espionage Act intelligence prosecution cases in the United States. This is achieved through a literature review of the politics of intelligence and the judiciary in the U.S., which is consequently developed into a framework that identifies four general factors: judicial process, political climate, national security, and political incentives. This framework is then applied to the respective contexts of two Espionage Act prosecution cases: the Ellsberg Pentagon Papers case of 1971 and the Manning WikiLeaks case of 2010. The study concludes that political factors influence Espionage Act prosecution cases to a large extent, although constitutional separation of powers ensures a due process guided by a fairly independent judiciary.

Intelligence accountability

Espionage Act

Intelligence prosecution

Political influence

Ellsberg

Pentagon Papers

Manning

WikiLeaks

Author

Weltje, Lowik Eduard

Faculty

Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs

Supervisors

Van Puyvelde, D.T.N.

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en