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In reply to the discussion: Can someone tell me what law the leaker broke? [View all]LetMyPeopleVote
(179,958 posts)27. What we know about the investigation into the Supreme Court leak-What Crime is at play
There is no crime at play here
Link to tweet
https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/03/politics/supreme-court-leak-investigation/index.html?utm_term=link&utm_source=twCNNp&utm_content=2022-05-03T23%3A43%3A04&utm_medium=social
's unclear what crime could be investigated and whether the FBI and the Justice Department have the authority to look into a leak that doesn't have to do with classified or sensitive information.
Moreover, after leading politically sensitive investigations of presidential candidates and a sitting president in recent years, Justice Department and FBI officials are loath to get the bureau involved in what may end up being a political effort to try to affect the outcome of the court's final opinion in the case.
"Leaks of government information, by themselves, are not crimes," said Steve Vladeck, a CNN Supreme Court analyst who's a professor at the University of Texas School of Law. "Usually, leakers are prosecuted for leaking classified information, which this isn't, or for offenses related to how they obtained the information they leaked."
"But without one of those hooks, or some kind of financial harm to the government arising from the leak, there's no federal criminal statute that makes leaking of simply confidential governmental information unlawful," Vladeck added.
Moreover, after leading politically sensitive investigations of presidential candidates and a sitting president in recent years, Justice Department and FBI officials are loath to get the bureau involved in what may end up being a political effort to try to affect the outcome of the court's final opinion in the case.
"Leaks of government information, by themselves, are not crimes," said Steve Vladeck, a CNN Supreme Court analyst who's a professor at the University of Texas School of Law. "Usually, leakers are prosecuted for leaking classified information, which this isn't, or for offenses related to how they obtained the information they leaked."
"But without one of those hooks, or some kind of financial harm to the government arising from the leak, there's no federal criminal statute that makes leaking of simply confidential governmental information unlawful," Vladeck added.
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The issue in that case was trading on government information for financial gain.
Ocelot II
May 2022
#19
It's all meant to distract from the larger issue that we have a right-wing radical Supreme Court
TheRealNorth
May 2022
#4
I'm certain one of the terms of employment is non-disclosal of privileged communications
Bucky
May 2022
#22
What we know about the investigation into the Supreme Court leak-What Crime is at play
LetMyPeopleVote
May 2022
#27
These IDIOTS want to go after someone, (in the SC) that leaked the TRUTH. yet
bluestarone
May 2022
#28