A careful reading of the Espionage Act makes clear that anyone who obtains and retains classified information -- regardless of whether or not they communicate or publish it -- is committing a crime.

仔细阅读反间谍法的话，我们能够清楚地知道如果有人获得和持有机密信息--不管他们是否传播或者公开了信息--那就是犯罪。

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There is serious talk about charging Assange under the Espionage Act for the release of the diplomatic cables.

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We can recall only a single such prosecution of a journalist under the Espionage Act in 95 years.

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The crime in question would be violating the Espionage Act, the 1917 law that would most likely be the basis for any prosecution of Assange.

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