A newly disclosed document shows the British government justified detaining the partner of journalist Glenn Greenwald by accusing him of “espionage” and “terrorism.” In August, David Miranda was on his way home to Brazil when he was held for nine hours at London’s Heathrow airport. He faced repeated interrogation and had many personal items seized, including thumb drives carrying information used by Greenwald in his reporting on National Security Agency surveillance. An internal police order authorizing Miranda’s detention from that day says: “Intelligence indicates that Miranda is likely to be involved in espionage activity.” It continues: “We assess that Miranda is knowingly carrying material, the release of which would endanger people’s lives. Additionally the disclosure or threat of disclosure is designed to influence a government, and is made for the purpose of promoting a political or ideological cause. This therefore falls within the definition of terrorism.”