A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to create a new Federal criminal offense of treasonous espionage--the unauthorized disclosure of classified information relating to national defense for profit, and to provide for the penalty of death by firing squad for such offense.

Summary

Amends the Federal criminal code to make it a criminal offense for the unauthorized disclosure of classified secret information for profit to any foreign government (or faction therein) with the intent to injure the United States or for the advantage of a foreign nation. Authorizes the death penalty if such disclosure severely jeopardizes the national security of the United States. Requires a separate sentencing hearing before a jury or the court (upon motion by the defendant) when the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty to such offense, except when the Government stipulates that one or more mitigating factors exist. Requires the jury or the court (if there is no jury) to find that one or more specified mitigating factors exist. States that if such a factor exists the court shall not sentence the defendant to death. Declares that if the death penalty is imposed such sentence shall be carried out by a firing squad. Requires the Attorney General to make a live video and audio coverage of any execution available to the public.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 12 June 1985

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 12 June 1985

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 15 July 1985

   Referred

   Referred to Subcommittee on Criminal Law.

   Source: Committee

4. 13 September 1985

   Referred

   Committee on Judiciary. Concurrently referred to the Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism.

   Source: Committee

Votes

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Versions

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Documents

1 official file

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 12 June 1985

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Pressler, Larry [R-SD] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Symms, Steven D. [R-ID] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Nickles, Don [R-OK] · R · Cosponsor
• · ssju00 · Standing

Related records

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