Trump was not engaged in espionage

 Alan Dershowitz:

Former President Donald Trump has been charged with a variety of crimes, including violation of the misnamed Espionage Act.

That 1917 statute is misnamed because it covers a great many offenses that don’t involve spying or giving secrets to the enemy. In fact, over the years it has been used extensively against patriotic Americans who have opposed wars and dissented from other government actions.

In Trump’s case, he is being accused primarily of unlawful possession of allegedly classified material. (RELATED: ALAN DERSHOWITZ: It’s Now More Important Than Ever For Trump’s Trials To Be Televised)

But because he has been charged under the Espionage Act, many people have been misled into believing the accusations against him have something to do with espionage, spying or even treason.

The use of the term espionage is extremely prejudicial to Trump in the court of public opinion. It would be even more prejudicial in a court of law if the jury were to hear that word in connection with his case.

Accordingly, Trump’s lawyers should immediately move for what’s called a motion in limine prohibiting the use of the word espionage by prosecutors, either inside the courtroom or outside it, but especially in front of the jury.

“Espionage” has no relevance to the upcoming trial. It associates Trump with some of the worst offenses imaginable.

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed for espionage. Several former government officials have served long terms for espionage.

Those defendants actually provided classified and other secret information to our enemies. Trump should not be painted with that invidious brush, based on the evidence in his case.
...

There is zero evidence that Trump was giving classified information to the enemy.  Dershowitz is right to point out how prejudicial the term is in the Trump case. 

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