Photo: Christopher Michel
Fifty years ago Daniel Ellsberg released the Pentagon Papers, a top-secret study of the US involvement in the Vietnam War. In the wake of leaking the papers to the New York Times Ellsberg became the first person to be prosecuted under the Espionage Act of 1917. To this day, he insists he should not have been tried under the act, as it is in direct violation of the First Amendment which protects freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
Ellsberg is a firm supporter of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who has also been charged for violating the Espionage Act. Last week US lawyers launched a fresh attempt to have Assange extradited from Britain, in an effort to get him to face the charges in the States - but Ellsberg argues that Assange should not be extradited nor charged with espionage.
Ellsberg appears in the new documentary 'The Boys Who Said No' by Oscar-nominated director Judith Erlich, which is available to watch online for three days from this Sunday 7 November. Head here for details.
Protesters outside the Royal Courts of Justice last week. Photo: AFP
