Daniel Ellsberg: Pentagon Papers whistleblower dies aged 92

Daniel Ellsberg, the whistleblower who exposed the grade of US engagement successful the Vietnam War, has died, aged 92.

He died astatine his location successful Kensington, California, of pancreatic cancer, his household said.

The erstwhile US subject analyst's 1971 Pentagon Papers leak led to him being dubbed "the astir unsafe antheral successful America".

It led to a Supreme Court lawsuit arsenic the Nixon medication tried to artifact work successful the New York Times.

But espionage charges against Ellsberg were yet dismissed.

For decades, Ellsberg was a tireless professional of authorities overreach and subject interventions.

His absorption crystallised during the 1960s, erstwhile helium advised the White House connected atomic strategy and assessed the Vietnam War for the Department of Defense.

What Ellsberg learned during that play weighed heavy connected his conscience. If lone the nationalist knew, helium thought, governmental unit to extremity the warfare mightiness beryllium irresistible.

The merchandise of the Pentagon Papers was a merchandise of that rationale.