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...Show moreThis 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.Show less