Ep. 34 The 100th anniversary of the Espionage Act of 1917

It was 100 years ago this month that the Espionage Act of 1917
was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson, making it a
crime to interfere with the operations of the United States
military.


During its lifetime, the act has had a troubled history with the
First Amendment. It has been used to criminalize wartime dissent,
restrict press freedom, and prosecute government whistleblowers.


On today’s episode of So to Speak, we speak with University of
Washington School of Law scholar Ronald Collins about the
Espionage Act and its continuing relevance to civil liberties
advocates. We also venture into a slightly unrelated discussion
of the Supreme Court’s decision in the case In re Anastaplo
(1961), which reveals the sort of risks that accompany standing
up for one’s rights during times of uncertainty.


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