The New York Times reports Justice Department lawyers are exploring whether the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange could be charged with violating the Espionage Act of 1917 for publishing the classified Afghan war documents. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has already called for the criminal prosecution of WikiLeaks. On Thursday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates denounced the leaking of the documents.

Robert Gates: “The battlefield consequences of the release of these documents are potentially severe and dangerous for our troops, our allies and Afghan partners, and may well damage our relationships and reputation in that key part of the world.”