Trump prosecutes security leaks ‘more aggressively’ than past presidents
Donald Trump’s administration has prosecuted national security leaks more aggressively than any presidency in US history, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange’s extradition hearing has been told.
Lawyer and historian Carey Shenkman said the US president is on track to exceed the number of espionage act cases brought under Barack Obama’s two terms in less than four years.
As san ge ,49, is fighting extradition to the US to face 17 charges under the 1917 law, as well as an 18th charge alleging he plotted to hack computers.
Giving evidence by videolink Mr Shenkman described the espionage act as “one of the most contentious” in the US.
“The administration of Donald Trump has prosecuted disclosures of national security information more aggressively than any presidency in US history,” he said.
Mr S hen km an said eight prosecution under the act were brought under Mr Obama - more than all pre - vious administrations combined. The Trump administration indicted its eighth alleged journalistic source under the act in October last year.
“There has never, in the century-long history of the espionage act, been an indictment of a US publisher for the publication of secrets,” he said.