Shouldn't it be a crime for Russia/Wikileaks to use altered documents to influence

[Tal Vez]

our elections? Surely, Putin and Assange should be permitted to express their support for Trump, but should the American electorate have to put up with purposeful distortions of reality designed to deprive voters of the truth?

Russian Hackers Altered Emails Before Release to Wikileaks:

https://www.reddit.com/r/EnoughTrumpSpam/comments/4uyih3/russian_hackers_altered_emails_before_release_to/

I think that a grand jury should investigate the Russian/Wikileaks campaign activities. I suspect that when the truth comes out, some of these activities will be found to be criminal.

[MineralMan]

1. It's a matter of jurisdiction.

U.S. courts have no jurisdiction internationally. That's the core of the problem.

[Tal Vez]

2. Yes, I see your point. But, doesn't some of this activity take place in the United States?

Are there no Wikileaks operations or employees based here in the United States?

I know that the world is becoming a smaller place, but distributing altered documents is more than just expressing an opinion. I really wish that we could find a way to protect our country from foreigners who are engaging in what amounts ro a form of political terrorism. I am certain that I would face severe consequences if I had an office in Moscow and began distributing phony documents designed to disrupt Russian elections. Putin would never tolerate that.

I understand your point though and it's a good one. This problem is not simple to solve.

[Demsrule86]

3. It is espionage.

Trump could be in trouble too...if he is colluding with them. Another poster said Trump seemed to know what was in the emails before they were released.

[Tal Vez]

4. I hate to think that Trump could be that stupid, but I suspect that you're right.

I usually think of espionage as collecting accurate information rather than distributing lies and phony documents. The damage is certainly similar either way and a democratic nation should be capable of protecting the integrity of its elections.

I recognize that in a way Assange is already locked up in that he is dodging the rape charges by hiding in an embassy. However, he continues to be free enough to play the lead role in this Russian operation. Something should be done, but I'm not clear as to what it should be.

[LoverOfLiberty]

5. Isn't it a crime to hack into a computer?

Isn't it a crime to publish classified information?

This is a criminal outfit no matter how you look at it.

[Recursion]

6. Yes to the first question; the second one is more complicated

Classification does not automatically give a legal responsibility to a random person who does not have a clearance.

[LoverOfLiberty]

7. Certainly it depends on jurisdiction

but I believe that if you receive what you know to be classified information and you disseminate it improperly, you can be charged with a crime, whether you were actually cleared to receive that classified information or not.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

8. Truth question.

"Should the American electorate have to put up with purposeful distortions of reality designed to deprive voters of the truth?"

I wish it wasn't the case, but we've had AM talk radio and FOX News for years.

I honestly wouldn't care so much about the right-wing attack machine EXCEPT for their frequent dishonesty! When people make appeals for the return of "The Fairness Doctrine" in our media, I'd argue that we more need of an "Accuracy Doctrine." Of course, it's then a debate of who decides what's inaccurate, what's an intentional falsehood, etc.. Ugh, it saddens me. I suppose that better education is the best counter-attack.