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The Pentagon Papers, Julian Assange and the right to know

Media groups that publish secret government data worry their ability to cite public interest as a defence could be lost.

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The Pentagon Papers, Julian Assange & the right to know
By Danylo Hawaleshka
Published On 12 Jun 2023

History Illustrated is a weekly series of insightful perspectives that puts news events and current affairs into historical context using graphics generated with artificial intelligence.

The Pentagon Papers were a top-secret stash of government documents that exposed how, for years and years, the U.S. had lied to its people about the Vietnam War.
The Pentagon Papers were a top-secret stash of government documents that exposed how, for years and years, the U.S. had lied to its people about the Vietnam War.
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On June 13, 1971 the New York Times began publishing stories based on those papers, but had to stop two days later, when the Nixon administration sought an injunction.
On June 13, 1971 the New York Times began publishing stories based on those papers, but had to stop two days later, when the Nixon administration sought an injunction.
In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court refused to curb the First Amendment right to a free press. It said the government had failed to show how publication would cause “grave and irreparable” harm.
In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court refused to curb the First Amendment right to a free press. It said the government had failed to show how publication would cause “grave and irreparable” harm.
Nixon called it a “stinking decision” and took his anger out on the judges.
Nixon called it a “stinking decision” and took his anger out on the judges.
The man behind the leak, Daniel Ellsberg, was never vindicated in court. Facing 115 years in prison, he saw his case dismissed, not because he was right, but because the government had broken the law to collect evidence against him.
The man behind the leak, Daniel Ellsberg, was never vindicated in court. Facing 115 years in prison, he saw his case dismissed, not because he was right, but because the government had broken the law to collect evidence against him.
The question of what the public has a right to know was raised again in 2010, when Julian Assange published leaked military and diplomatic documents.
The question of what the public has a right to know was raised again in 2010, when Julian Assange published leaked military and diplomatic documents.
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The leak included a video taken on July 12, 2007, when two U.S. helicopters circled unarmed civilians in Iraq and opened fire. At least 12 people were killed. The military tried to cover it up.
The leak included a video taken on July 12, 2007, when two U.S. helicopters circled unarmed civilians in Iraq and opened fire. At least 12 people were killed. The military tried to cover it up.
Assange now faces 175 years in prison. He’s already spent almost seven years in a London embassy, and the last four in a British jail fighting extradition to the U.S.
Assange now faces 175 years in prison. He’s already spent almost seven years in a London embassy, and the last four in a British jail fighting extradition to the U.S.
Today, the UK is drafting a new national security bill that lacks a ‘public interest defence’ clause. As a result, some media worry some of their investigative journalism could be criminalised. Wonder what Ellsberg and Assange think about that?
Today, the UK is drafting a new national security bill that lacks a ‘public interest defence’ clause. As a result, some media worry some of their investigative journalism could be criminalised. Wonder what Ellsberg and Assange think about that?