> Corporate espionage. Stealing secrets from a company and sanctions-busting are of course bad things to do, but the legal consequences are not the same as stealing confidential information from the government.

Sort of.

But if the government is hosting its email with Joe, and Joe hires an intern who installs a backdoor for Russia: that would be treason.

Despite the fact that it's a quaint allegory, it's actually a closer one to the reality of the situation.

Treason is very narrowly defined in the US constitution, and has not been prosecuted since WW2.

As long as the US is not at war with Russia, spying for Russia can't be treason.

> "Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort."