Haig v. Agee 453 U.S. 280 (1981)

views updated

HAIG v. AGEE 453 U.S. 280 (1981)

Philip Agee, a former employee of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) who was familiar with its covert intelligence gathering, revealed the identities of its agents and sources, disrupting the intelligence operations of the United States, and exposing CIA operatives to assassination. The secretary of state revoked Agee's passport because his activities abroad damaged national security. Agee objected that revocation of his passport violated his constitutional freedom of speech, and procedural due process. An8–2 supreme court found his claims meritless, because his freedom to travel abroad was subordinate to national security considerations, his disclosures obstructed intelligence operations and therefore were unprotected by the first amendment, and his right to due process was satisfied by the opportunity for a prompt hearing after revocation. The dissenters did not rely on constitutional grounds.

Leonard W. Levy
(1986)