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Classification aside, these documents are still stolen, aren't they? Couldn't a reasonable case be made that downloading them constitutes handling stolen property?


I don't think so. Despite mealy-mouthed online commentators' poor wording, the law doesn't see making copies of information as "stealing" in any way.


Perhaps I should say 'copyright violation' rather than 'handling stolen property'.


Government-produced content like this isn't subject to copyright, if I recall correctly.


Looks like you are probably right:

"Usually, a work receives copyright protection as soon as pen hits paper. However, a work created by an NSA employee, or any USG employee, as a part of the employee's official duties is not entitled to copyright protection"[1]

[1]https://www.nsa.gov/research/tnw/tnw193/article4.shtml




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