The Espionage Act of 1917 is a United States federal law enacted on June 15, 1917. The law was enacted after the United States entered World War I. The Espionage Act has been amended a number of times over the years. It was found originally in Title 50 of the US Code (War & National Defense) but now exists under Title 18 (Crime & Criminal Procedure). 

The Espionage Act is intended to punish acts of interference with the foreign relations, and the foreign commerce of the United States, to punish espionage. The Act prohibits interference with military operations or recruitment, to prevent the support of United States enemies during wartime. 

The Espionage Act makes the following a crime: 

Conveying information with the intent to interfere with the operation or success of the armed forces of the United States or to promote its enemies’ success. This was punishable by death or imprisonment for not more that 30 years or both. 

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Conveying false reports or statements with the intent to interfere with the operation or success of the military or naval forces of the United States or to promote the success of its enemies when the United States is at war. 

The Espionage Act forbids the transfer of any naval vessel equipped for combat of any nation engaged in conflict in which the United States is neutral. 

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On May 16, 1918, the Espionage Act was extended to the Sedition Act of 1918 with a series of amendments to the Espionage Act. It prohibited several forms of speech, including “any disloyal, profane, scurrilous or abusive language about the form of government of the United States, or the uniform of the Army or Navy.”

Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States of America, is under investigation for potential violations of the Espionage Act and additional statutes relating to obstruction of justice and destroying federal government records, according to the search warrant executed by FBI agents at the former president’s home.