Rand Paul Turns up the Heat, Pushes to Repeal Espionage Act that many Think Could be Politically Abused

On Saturday, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) called for the repeal of the Espionage Act. He called it an “egregious affront to the 1st Amendment.” His tweet also included how he feels it was abused in WWI to jail dissenters, and a link to The Future of Freedom Foundation article which cites abuses of the Act.

“The espionage act was abused from the beginning to jail dissenters of WWI. It is long past time to repeal this egregious affront to the 1st Amendment. Repeal the Espionage Act – The Future of Freedom Foundation”

The espionage act was abused from the beginning to jail dissenters of WWI. It is long past time to repeal this egregious affront to the 1st Amendment.

Repeal the Espionage Act – The Future of Freedom Foundation https://t.co/3KCgujpS9z

— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) August 13, 2022

A violation of the Espionage Act is what is cited in the search warrant exercised to raid former President Donald Trump’s Florida home. The search warrant, which was unsealed Friday, cited 18 USC 793 – Gathering, transmitting, or losing defense information as a potential violation and reason for the raid. 18 USC 793 is part of the Espionage Act.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on Thursday that he had approved the raid of the former president’s home. He also maintained he was unaware of when it would take place. Garland in his brief statement to the public didn’t clarify much of the speculation that has been surrounding the raid that took place on Monday.

Garland did announce he would let the search warrant be unsealed. He did not however allow for any affidavits to be unsealed with the warrant which left much up to interpretation.

After the warrant was unsealed, U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) jumped down the rabbit hole after reading the documents and convicted Trump of something he himself admittedly doesn’t know the details of.

Eric Swalwell Gives Up Game, Wants People to Believe Trump Purposefully ’Stole Secretly Documents’

In the article from 2019 that Paul shared with his tweet the author claims:

The Espionage Act, a tyrannical law that was enacted two months after the U.S. entered the war and which, unfortunately, remained on the books after the war came to an end. In fact, it is that World War I relic that U.S. officials are now relying on to secure the criminal indictment of Julian Assange.

The article gives a very good argument against the Espionage Act, and why it is outdated and should be repealed talking also about how it has been abused.

With midterms approaching and rumors of a red wave growing, Republicans may be able to legislate. That speculation all remains to be seen.