Former President Donald Trump has been charged with a variety of crimes, including violation of the misnamed Espionage Act.

That 1917 statute is misnamed because it covers a great many offenses that don’t involve spying or giving secrets to the enemy.

In fact, over the years it has been used extensively against patriotic Americans who have opposed wars and dissented from other government actions.

In Trump’s case, he is being accused primarily of unlawful possession of allegedly classified material.

But because he has been charged under the Espionage Act, many people have been misled into believing the accusations against him have something to do with espionage, spying or even treason.

The use of the term espionage is extremely prejudicial to Trump in the court of public opinion. It would be even more prejudicial in a cour …