Art Section 3 - Treason - Constitution of the United States

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Congress shall have power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

Treason - Definition: treason is the offense of attempting to overthrow the government of one's country or of assisting its enemies in war

Corruption of Blood - definitions: Corruption of Blood was part of ancient English penalty for treason. It was usually part of a Bill of Attainder, which normally sentenced the accused to death. The corruption of blood would forbid the accused's family from inhereting his property. Such bills and punishments were often inflicted upon Tories by colonial governments immediately following independence.

The difference between sedition and treason consists primarily in the subjective ultimate object of the violation to the public peace. Sedition does not consist oflevying war against a government nor of adhering to its enemies, giving enemies aid, and giving enemies comfort. Nor does it consist, in most representative democracies, of peaceful protest against a government, nor of attempting to change the government by democratic means (such as direct democracy or constitutional convention).

Mary McCarthy, who worked for the Central Intelligence Agency up until last week, should be tried for treason. Whatever her motives (dislike of the current administration, ties to Wilson (Plamme fame), or grasping at a book deal and more than fifteen minutes of fame), there is no excuse for relaying classified information, to the press or elsewhere, during a period when the United States is at war.

There are simply no excuses.