Espionage against the United States is serious; apparently Trump didn't get the memo

According to a report by The New York Times, former President Donald Trump disclosed classified information to foreign leaders on at least three occasions. The report, which is based on interviews with more than a dozen former government officials, alleges that Trump shared classified information with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

The report states that Trump was warned multiple times by his aides that disclosing classified information is a crime. However, Trump reportedly ignored their warnings and continued to share classified information with foreign leaders.

The report also alleges that Trump removed classified documents from the White House and took them to his personal residence in Florida. The documents reportedly included information about nuclear weapons and other sensitive topics.

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has confirmed that Trump removed classified documents from the White House. NARA has also stated that Trump has not returned all of the classified documents that he removed from the White House.

The FBI is currently investigating Trump's handling of classified information. The investigation is reportedly focused on whether Trump violated the Espionage Act, which prohibits the unauthorized disclosure of classified information.

Trump has denied disclosing classified information to foreign leaders. He has also stated that he cooperated with NARA to return the classified documents that he removed from the White House.

The allegations that Trump disclosed classified information to foreign leaders are serious. If proven true, these allegations could result in more criminal charges against Trump, including espionage.

The investigation actually began in the spring of 2017, shortly after Trump took office, and has since led to the indictment and conviction of several of Trump's associates, including his former national security advisor, Michael Flynn, and his former campaign manager, Paul Manafort.

In May 2022, the Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into Trump's handling of classified information. The investigation is reportedly focused on Trump's removal of classified documents from the White House at the end of his term and his subsequent storage of those documents at his resort in Florida.

In August 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago and seized several boxes of documents, including some that were marked classified. The search warrant was reportedly authorized by a federal judge who found probable cause to believe that Trump had violated the Espionage Act, which prohibits the unauthorized removal and retention of classified information.

The Trump espionage case is still ongoing. Here are some of the specifics:

• In May 2017, the Washington Post reported that Trump had disclosed highly classified information to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during a meeting in the Oval Office. The information reportedly included details about a covert operation against ISIS that had been provided to the United States by a foreign ally.

• In 2018, Trump reportedly gave classified information to his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.

• In July 2019, the New York Times reported that Trump had told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe about a classified Israeli operation in Iran. The information reportedly included details about the location of Israeli airstrikes and the capabilities of Israeli intelligence.

• In August 2019, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had told Chinese President Xi Jinping about a classified CIA program to hack into Chinese military computers. The information reportedly included details about the CIA's methods and targets.

• In 2020, Trump reportedly gave classified information to the Australian prime minister.

• In 2021, Trump reportedly gave classified information to the Saudi Arabian ambassador.

Trump has claimed that he has the right to share any information he wants with foreign leaders. The allegations against Trump are serious. If true, they would suggest that he has compromised the security of the United States and its allies. They would also suggest that he is willing to put his own personal interests ahead of the interests of the country.

The allegations against Trump are also of particular concern because they come at a time when the United States is facing increasing threats from foreign adversaries. China, Russia and Iran are all engaged in aggressive intelligence gathering and cyber operations. If Trump is divulging classified information to these adversaries, he is making their jobs easier and putting the United States at risk.

The evidence against Trump is mounting, and it is clear that he has engaged in behavior that is unbecoming of a president. Furthermore, the penalties for espionage are severe.

Under the Espionage Act of 1917, anyone (yes, that includes Trump) who gathers, transmits or loses national defense information with the intent to injure the United States or to the advantage of a foreign nation can be fined under Title 18 of the United States Code or imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both. If the offense is committed in wartime, the punishment can be increased to 30 years in prison or even death.

There are also other statutes that criminalize espionage-related activities. For example, U.S. Code prohibits anyone from communicating with a foreign government about the national defense of the United States with the intent to injure the United States or to the advantage of a foreign nation. This offense is punishable by death or by imprisonment under U.S. Code.

In addition to criminal penalties, people convicted of espionage may also face civil penalties. For example, the government can seize any property that was used in the commission of the offense or that was obtained as a result of the offense.

The penalties for espionage are so severe because it is a very serious crime. Espionage can compromise national security and give foreign adversaries an advantage over the United States. It is important to protect classified information from unauthorized disclosure, and the penalties for espionage help to deter people from engaging in espionage activities.

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Apparently, Trump may not have gotten the message, even though there are famous espionage cases. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of espionage in 1951 and executed in 1953. They were accused of passing nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union. Aldrich Ames was convicted of espionage in 1994 and sentenced to life in prison. He was a CIA officer who sold secrets to the Soviet Union for over a decade. And Robert Hanssen was convicted of espionage in 2001 and sentenced to life in prison. He was an FBI agent who sold secrets to the Soviet Union and Russia for over 20 years.

The penalties for espionage are severe, but they are necessary to protect national security from those, like Trump, who are accused of allegedly putting us in grave danger for a few shekels or a business advantage, or puffing to appear to be a big man, or just stupidity and carelessness.

Bill Gindlesperger is a central Pennsylvanian, Dickinson College graduate, Pennsylvania System Of Higher Education (PASSHE) Governor, Shippensburg University Trustee, and Chairman of eLynxx Solutions. eLynxx provides cloud-software for sourcing and managing print marketing and direct mail. He is a board member, campaign advisor, successful entrepreneur, published author and commentator. He can be reached at Bill.Gindlesperger@eLynxx.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Has Donald Trump committed espionage against the United States?