An individual in opposition to the war in Iraq illegally obtains and distributes secret Defense Department documents to a national newspaper. According to the Supreme Court ruling in New York Times v. United States (1971), which of the following can occur?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court ruled in New York Times v. United States (1971), also known as the "Pentagon Papers" case, that the government could not prevent the New York Times from publishing classified documents related to the Vietnam War. The ruling established that the government's prior restraint of the press was unconstitutional under the First Amendment, except in cases where it could be proven that publication would immediately endanger national security. Therefore, choice C is correct - the newspaper can publish the documents, even without the consent of the federal government.

An Individual in Opposition to the War in Iraq Illegally