Ex-Navy SEAL Matt Bissonette was thrilled to share about a book that he recently helped write on CBS’ 60 Minutes. The former soldier says that he is one of the authors of “No Easy Day,” a book about the research for find Osama Bin Laden and the eventual operation that ended his life. Bissonette talked about the book in depth during the interview, which will air on CBS on September 9^th. He said that the book is about September 11^th, and rests on September 11^th. He insisted that it has nothing to do with politics and doesn’t need to be pulled into the political arena for any reason.

Bissonette himself was the second man who went into the room after Bin Laden was shot. While the book has been talked about and eagerly anticipated, associates at the Pentagon are saying that Mr. Bissonette is violating a secret agreement with the government. They are threatening to take legal action against the author because he is providing information to the public they would have preferred to keep private. Still, some men and women in the Richmond area are fighting in Bissonette’s favor. One man told news stations that Bissonette should have a right to his experiences and be able to publish them if that is what he wants to do. Another man told news stations that now that everything is said and done, he doesn’t understand why it needs to be kept so secret.

Nave SEALs in general are not happy about the publication. One retired Navy SEAL told CBS that the soldiers are given certain secrets and there can be legal action if they give those little nuggets of information away. As well, he says that Bissonette probably signed an agreement, which he has now violated by providing his information to the public. The retired Navy SEAL says that he won’t be surprised if the author faces legal action from the Pentagon because of his choices. The Pentagon is considering forcing Bissonette and his publisher to forgo royalties of the book because it reveals secrets.

Bissonette’s case is one of honor, freedom of speech, and the responsibility to uphold an agreement. Because he legally signed a contract promising to keep certain details of his profession and operations a secret, the Pentagon has the right to silence him how they see fit. Those with great power often have great responsibility as well, including the need to keep secrets that they are contractually obligated to hide. There is a very fine line between your right to free speech and exposing information. If you break a contract that has been signed in the presence of witnesses, then you can be held accountable to those documents.

If you have flippantly discussed the details of a confidential government plan, case, or any other government property, then you too can be prosecuted. This is especially true if you trade secrets to the press or a person who could use that information against you. In some cases, exchanging information can be regarded as treason. Normally, treason is defined as a U.S. citizen who takes actions to turn against the U.S. Yet it can also be defined as disloyalty to your own government, and sharing secrets may be considered this form of disloyalty.

In the early years, treason brought on the death penalty. Now, those who commit treason are normally put in jail for at least five years and charged about $10,000 for their crime. Some nations will give life imprisonment to a citizen who commits treason, but America has been more forgiving in recent times. If you are in danger with the government because you shared secrets or committed a fact that could be regarded as treason, then talk to a criminal defense lawyer today to get representation in court and fight for your rights!