Ex-Navy SEAL Faces Legal Jeopardy for Writing about bin Laden Raid
Source: NBC News
What legal consequences could a former U.S. Navy SEAL face for writing a book about the still-classified 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden? Legal experts say the author could face trouble on two fronts -- a civil lawsuit for not seeking a military review before the book was published and possible criminal prosecution for revealing classified information. But a former Justice Department national security lawyer, Pat Rowan, said the government might be reluctant to prosecute a man who helped kill America's No. 1 terrorist enemy, unless the book reveals highly valuable and sensitive intelligence secrets.
"What's more, if the government did decide to prosecute, the author's lawyer would be entitled to dig into the information that was disclosed by the White House and other officials, in both sanctioned and unsanctioned leaks," Rowan said.
Rowan was referring to the fact that President Barack Obama and other administration officials have been accused by Republicans of leaking details of the bin Laden raid for political gain. In response, the administration has launched a crackdown on internal leaks of classified information. Dutton, a subsidiary of Penguin Group USA, announced on Wednesday that the book, titled "No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama bin Laden," would go on sale on Sept. 11. The author, who will be identified only by a pseudonym, was one of the first men through the door on the third floor of the terrorist leaders hideout and was present at his death, it said in a statement.
A similar case arose in the 1970s, when a former CIA officer named Frank Snepp published a book about his activities in Vietnam. The U.S. government sued on the grounds that he did not seek pre-publication review -- as he was obligated to do under an agreement he signed as a condition of employment -- and lower courts agreed to a demand that all the profits from the book be turned over to the government. By a vote of 6-3, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed, even though the government never claimed the book revealed classified information. The author could also be charged with violating federal laws that make it a crime for government employees to reveal classified information. Anyone given a security clearance is bound for life by its non-disclosure terms, so the fact that the former SEAL is no longer in the military would not free him from the obligation to keep government secrets to himself. A DOJ official who spoke with NBC News on condition of anonymity on Thursday said he knew of no legal action against the former SEAL. That process would most likely start with a request from the Defense Department and, so far as the official knew, none had been made. DOD would have to verify that the book revealed government secrets before making such a request, the official said.
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SoapBox
(18,791 posts)to GITMO.
nolabear
(41,963 posts)I don't recall his name and am posting mobile so can't look it up but just heard on Hartmann that Fox found out and reported his
name along with "speculation" about what trouble he might be in. Think they're trying to turn a possible Obama bump into a scandal?
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)If Fox gave out his real name or even found out his real name then every member of those teams and their families are now at risk.
Posteritatis
(18,807 posts)Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)Because if he does, his family and friends could now be in jeopardy. Fox may end up with blood on it's hands.
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)jody
(26,624 posts)Ter
(4,281 posts)I hope he's a match for the CIA (or whichever secret agency), this could get interesting.