Thread by @skdocs

My new film UNITED STATES VS. REALITY WINNER is about #RealityWinner who disclosed one document about Russian election interference to the media and received the longest prison sentence ever imposed on a #whistleblower in federal court: 63 months.

Reality Winner is in prison right now, where she had contracted COVID-19, and is especially vulnerable because of underlying health conditions such as a history of respiratory illnesses, eating disorders, anxiety, and depression.
theintercept.com/2018/11/24/rea…

Our independent film team documented the harsh prosecution of #RealityWinner in Augusta, GA, along with journalists @kgosztola & @tkbarnes. Reality and her family faced an overwhelming adversary, the US Government that wanted to make an example out of then 25-year-old Reality.

#RealityWinner was charged under the 1917 Espionage Act, originally intended to prosecute foreign spies. For the 5-page document the @intercept published, Reality was facing 10 years in prison. Yet, the law didn't allow her a public interest defense.
aclu.org/blog/national-…

Meanwhile, state election officials used the information #RealityWinner disclosed in Senate hearings about #electionsecurity. And Special Counsel Robert Mueller also investigated Russian election interference.
intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/…

Initially, #RealityWinner pleaded not guilty to espionage and her legal team tried to exclude an FBI interview with Reality that was conducted without reading her Miranda rights during a raid of her home by 11 male FBI agents, 9 of them armed.
standwithreality.org/wp-content/upl…

For over a year #RealityWinner was held without bail in a county jail, cut off from the public and effectively silenced. Not even her legal team was allowed to discuss her leak or motivation publicly. Worn down by detention, Reality agreed to a plea deal.
wrdw.com/content/news/R…

I witnessed the devastating impact that the Espionage Act prosecution had on #RealityWinner and her family who struggled to get national attention for her case.
whistleblowersblog.org/2020/11/articl…

Contrary to common belief, #nationalsecurity #whistleblowers are extremely rare. It takes tremendous courage to expose government misconduct in light of the serious repercussions.

#RealityWinner’s story is personal to me. I’ve been an investigative national security journalist for 17 years. I covered the drone war in the film NATIONAL BIRD and documented the raid on #whistleblower #DanielHale who is facing 50 years in prison.
charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/…

The most important disclosures about war crimes, torture, mass data collection, and election interference have come from national security #whistleblowers who suffer enormous consequences.
aclu.org/blog/free-spee…

If you believe in government transparency and accountability, support #whistleblower protection because no one should be charged with espionage for disclosing government wrongdoing to the public.
whisper.exposefacts.org

If you believe in a #freepress, support independent journalists and filmmakers who do original reporting on #whistleblowers and national security, while facing risks and financial pressure, in addition to systemic barriers and hostility if they are women and people of color.

For 3 years, my small documentary team and I have been working independently, funded by grants & donations, on a film about #RealityWinner because we believe that the use of the Espionage Act against her and other #whistleblowers threatens our #democracy.
documentary.org/project/united…

We are working hard to finish the film to share how harshly #RealityWinner has been treated. She has been detained for 3.5 years while people convicted during the Trump-Russia investigation have been released.
businessinsider.com/reality-winner…

UNITED STATES VS. REALITY WINNER follows #RealityWinner’s story and discusses the impact espionage prosecutions have on #journalism, #freespeech, and #democracy. It has lead to a chilling effect that propagates (self-)censorship throughout this country.
rcfp.org/rcfp-urges-pri…

We need truth and courage to counter authoritarianism. Look up the disclosures of national security #whistleblowers like @DanielEllsberg, @JesselynRadack, @Thomas_Drake1, @xychelsea, #StephenKim, @S_UnwantedSpy, @JohnKiriakou, @Snowden, #DanielHale, #RealityWinner, #TerryAlbury.

Whistleblower #RealityWinner is still in prison, her appeal for compassionate release was denied last week. She will have to spend another holiday without her family. Please follow @bjwinnerdavis, @WinnerBrittany, @GaryLynnDavis2 to support Reality.
shadowproof.com/2020/12/07/11t…

UNITED STATES VS. REALITY WINNER will be completed soon. Please follow me and @c_odebreaker for updates on #RealityWinner, the film and impact campaign. Join our mailing list here: codebreakerfilms.com