In August 2010, Stephen Kim, a highly-regarded State Department intelligence analyst, was indicted under the Espionage Act for jeopardizing national security by allegedly divulging classified information to a reporter. Despite numerous officials in the State Department describing Kim's disclosure as nothing extraordinary, he faced 10 to 15 years in prison if convicted at trial. The Surrender intimately documents Stephen Kim's struggle to understand the events leading up to his prosecution as well as his last free days before prison.