What about that ex-Navy SEAL who is publishing a book about the Osama Bin Laden raid?
The Pentagon has written a letter to the SEAL stating that all SEALs sign confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements at some point during their assignments. And today, in the Wall Street Journal’s law blog, there is a response from the SEAL’s lawyer, denying that any agreements were breached.
This will be interesting to follow, and from what I’ve read so far, it’ll get nasty and bitter. (I question the timing of this book just before the election, given the absurd accusations Republicans have been casting against the Obama administration for “leaking” details of the mission, and “bragging” about it. I’m not going to even mention George W. Bush looking utterly goofy in that flyer’s outfit on the deck of the aircraft carrier, bragging about “Mission Accomplished,” in his utterly self-serving phony war against Iraq. Which at that pointed hadn’t been “accomplished.” Oh, gee, I guess I did mention it. )
UPDATE 8/20/2016. Well, it’s taken a while, hasn’t it? I posted the above about four years ago. This could be an object lesson in the length of time such legal struggles can take. And a lesson in how seriously you must take non-disclosure agreements you sign.
Source: Ex-SEAL Member Who Wrote Book on Bin Laden Raid Forfeits $6.8 Million – The New York Times
The payment comes as part of a settlement with the Justice Department for failing to have his book vetted for military secrets.