New US charges against Julian Assange could spell decades behind bars

Ok, substitute crimes for treason.

The state actors were the ones exposed, the ones filing charges

 

So you're not saying that there is Supreme Court precedent for a journalist getting away with doing whatever they want in the name of informing the public, are you?

 

No, thats intrue
The first duty of every citizen is to uphold the constitution.
Releasing secret information il treason.
It is not protected under the first amendment.

 

The potential danger there is that any information about the government the government does not like could be classified as "secret".

And I think one of the very primary roles of journalism in a democracy is being able to uncover government abuses.

There is a difference between a journalist, and someone who was sworn to secrecy and then entrusted with government secrets.

 

So you're not saying that there is Supreme Court precedent for a journalist getting away with doing whatever they want in the name of informing the public, are you?

 

Not really true Robert. The first duty of every citizen in the military, and every citizen serving in government who has taken such an oath is to uphold the constitution, but only under those conditions. No ordinary citizen takes such an oath.

The US Constitution actually defines the crime "treason", and it is the only crime defined in the document. Releasing secret information is NOT treason.

Technically, the US Constitution is silent about government secrecy.

A free press IS protected under the First Amendment, but you are unaware of that fact.