Dear friend of press
freedom,
I’m
writing to you with an urgent request: your support for the legal
defense fund of Barrett Brown, an investigative journalist now facing life
in prison as a result of his writing and research.
American
journalism is under attack in 2013. In recent years we’ve
seen an unprecedented wave of criminal investigations targeting reporters and
whistleblowers, while prosecutors abuse vague laws regarding computer use to
threaten activists with outrageous sentences. Today Barrett Brown faces the
full weight of this crackdown. It’s up to us to ensure that Barrett sees
justice and defeats the wildly excessive charges against him.
Barrett’s
career as a journalist is a brave and colorful one. He has written for
publications including Vanity Fair, the Guardian, and the Huffington Post; and
he co-authored a popular book, Flock of Dodos. In
2010, the revelations brought to light by WikiLeaks spurred Barrett to start
investigating the secretive world of private cybersecurity, defense and
intelligence contractors. Barrett founded an independent think-tank, Project PM, and started reporting on the Anonymous
hacktivist collective.
When Anonymous hacked into the records of the private security firm HBGary Federal in early 2011, Barrett’s zeal for transparency in taxpayer-funded yet little-known defense projects led him to spend months researching this company’s corrupt activities. He did the same in 2012, after the leak of thousands of records from the private intelligence firm Stratfor.
- Glenn Greenwald: ”Brown
is a serious journalist who has spent the last several years doggedly
investigating the shadowy and highly secretive underworld of private
intelligence and defense contractors, who work hand-in-hand with the
agencies of the Surveillance and National Security State in all sorts of
ways that remain completely unknown to the public. It is virtually
impossible to conclude that the obscenely excessive prosecution he now
faces is unrelated to that journalism and his related activism.”
Despite
his achievements, Barrett now waits in prison to fight a sentence of up
to 105 years. The 17 charges against him are based on
Barrett having blogged openly about FBI harassment of him and his family; on
Barrett allegedly having hidden a laptop when a family member’s home was raided
by the FBI in search of evidence against him; on his allegedly having
“trafficked in stolen goods” — that is, Stratfor documents containing clients’
credit card data; and on his alleged “dissemination” of the Stratfor documents
by simply copying and pasting a link to
them in an online chat. There is no indication that Barrett sought to use the
credit card numbers in any way; in fact, he publicly condemned Anonymous’
suggestion of doing so. As a journalist, Barrett felt
responsible for exposing to the public the inner workings of firms contracting
with the U.S. government — and for his efforts, he may receive a lifetime
in prison.
Barrett’s
prosecution highlights critical issues for
American journalists, activists, and internet users:
- The right to link. The
charges against Barrett for sharing the Stratfor data represent an attempt
to criminalize linking. What does this mean for the rights of internet
users, let alone journalists who link to primary source material? Online
linking is used by millions daily. What absurd legal theory makes an
internet user responsible for the content and consequences of a shared
link, resulting in criminal charges?
- Information and press
freedom. Barrett’s
work to uncover the activities of private security and intelligence
companies made him a prime target for prosecution. If citizens are
prevented from researching the growing surveillance state, what will
become of privacy, transparency, and civil liberties in America? Already
we see chilling effects on journalists working to shed light on corruption
and abuse among government contractors.
- Selective prosecution. Many
others — including established reporters — shared the same link
to Stratfor data named in Barrett’s indictment. Why is only Barrett being
prosecuted? And why is the FBI worried enough about the speech of an
unarmed writer to conduct heavily-armed raids on his home? Barrett’s
case is a prime example of the DOJ’s current prosecutorial abuse of
journalists, whistleblowers, and information activists.
- Reporters’ privilege. The
laptop that Barrett allegedly hid contained journalistic sources and work
product, including a book in progress. The First Amendment protects
reporters from revealing confidential information or sources. It isn’t
hard to conclude that the charges based on Barrett’s alleged concealment
amount to an effort to stifle his reporting on America’s growing
surveillance industry.
Fortunately,
two of the most skilled and dedicated lawyers in the country have taken up the
fight: Charles Swift and Ahmed
Ghappour, best known for their advocacy on behalf of Guantánamo
detainees, winning a victory over the Bush administration in a 2006 Supreme
Court case. But even with expert representation, Barrett’s
defense calls for resources that he doesn’t have. Your support is urgently needed to help Barrett
regain his freedom and continue his vital work. And this is not Barrett’s fight
alone — the outcome of this case will affect every American’s rights to
free speech, to independent journalism, and to political activism. Not
only does Barrett deserve a future — so do all of us, to preserve our
right to know what our government does in secret, yet in our names.
Barrett’s
trial begins in September. His defense is being funded
entirely through individual donors. With less than three months to go, will you help today?
Three
easy ways to contribute:
- PayPal: donate@freebarrettbrown.org
- Checks or money orders mailed to:
Free Barrett Brown Ltd., P.O. Box 2658, Amherst, MA 01004
Suggested
levels of support:
- $30 — Friend of Online Journalism
- $60 — Friend of Press Freedom
- $120 — Friend of Barrett Brown
- $300 — Friend of the First Amendment
- $600 — Friend of the Constitution
- $1000 — Friend of Justice
Don’t
let the government take away a courageous journalist’s life with abusive
prosecution for alleged information “crimes.” Free Barrett Brown.
With many thanks, and in
solidarity,
Kevin M. Gallagher
Director
Free Barrett Brown
Director
Free Barrett Brown
Twitter: @FreeBarrett_
Facebook: Free Barrett Brown
Website: freebarrettbrown.org
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