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Update: DannyB adds: United States Files Civil Lawsuit Against Edward Snowden
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/edward-snowden-nsa-cbs-this-morning-interview-today-2019-09-16/
When pressed on whether he considers what he did unlawful, Snowden refused to take a position but said "it's not hard to make the argument that I broke the law." He went on to say that the government continues to allege that his disclosures caused harm but, according to Snowden, has yet to show evidence of that harm.
"They never show evidence for it even though we're now more than 6 years on, it would be the easiest thing in the world to show. We've never heard that story," he said. "If they had some classified evidence that a hair on a single person's head was harmed, you know as well as I do, it would be on the front page of The New York Times by the end of the day."
Snowden also took issue with the common refrain that leaking classified documents violated the oath of secrecy he took upon entering the CIA. He said an oath of secrecy does not exist.
"One of the common misconceptions in one of the earlier attacks, that we heard in 2015, that we don't hear of so much anymore is that I violated this oath of secrecy. That does not exist. There is a secrecy agreement, but there is also an oath of service. An oath of service is to support and defend, not an agency, not even the president, it is to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies – direct quote – foreign and domestic. And this begs the question, what happens when our obligations come into conflict."
(Score: 4, Interesting) by DeathMonkey on Tuesday September 17 2019, @04:11PM (10 children)
Snowden did the RIGHT thing.
However, just 'cause it's right doesn't mean it's legal.
He should come back, face the trial, and submit to the punishment as an act of civil disobedience.
You don't need to prove harm to prove that he violated 18 U.S. Code § 798.Disclosure of classified information. [cornell.edu] The max punishment is 10 years, though [findlaw.com] With a plea and some good behavior he may just need to take a couple years for the team like Ghandi and King did.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday September 17 2019, @04:20PM (3 children)
I agree, wholeheartedly, Snowden is a hero and a warrior for the U.S. Constitution. He deserves a very public court trial and he deserves a legal team who successfully paint him as the Patriot he is, whatever the law says about what he has done, laws are made by politicians and he should be elevated to a popular position which merits laws protecting him and his actions and the actions of similar Patriots who might follow in his footsteps.
On the other hand, the situation is what it is, six years have passed, and the timing of his next press splash has to be a calculated thing, and the question of: "why now" remains more interesting than any rehash of the old story.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by Mykl on Tuesday September 17 2019, @11:04PM (2 children)
Ha, that's so cute! There's no way that any Snowdon trial will be held anywhere near the public eye. It will be a secret trial with secret charges (which his defence will not be allowed to know the detail of "for national security").
Jury? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Ohhh, I think I just gave myself a hernia.
About the only thing he's got going for him at the moment is Trump's short attention span. It's possible that Trump will get bored with the whole thing and drop it (or at least not push it along). If Hillary were in charge, the trial would be held in basement-level 2, Gitmo - next to the waterboarding room.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday September 17 2019, @11:41PM
Deserves... not a synonym for will receive.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 17 2019, @11:53PM
Well detected.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 17 2019, @05:27PM
So, let's just make that 1 day in jail per item leaked, to be served sequentially.
Seriously, don't forget that America has people in jail, illegally, without charge, for decades. I wouldn't trust America more than I can throw America.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us on Tuesday September 17 2019, @05:58PM
So if he did the RIGHT thing, should he not be allowed to argue before the jury both that he did the RIGHT thing and also reveal both what he knew and what he revealed?
He should be allowed the chance to present a case which allows for jury nullification if they are so inclined. But since he cannot, because there is no way the government will allow him to present both what he knows and why he felt it necessary to break secrecy because of it, there he is.
This sig for rent.
(Score: 2) by Common Joe on Tuesday September 17 2019, @07:15PM (1 child)
Even if the trial and punishment would be a farce? Do you really think he'd get a fair and just trial with that maximum of 10 years? Or would he be locked up indefinitely in solitary with no lawyer representation and no proper oversight?
(Score: 0, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 17 2019, @10:39PM
DeathMonkey doesn't care about that. He just agrees with everything the Democrat leadership agrees with, and they want to punish Snowden. "Take one for the team" my ass! Acting like years of prison time for a heroic deed is something we should accept as right.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 18 2019, @12:31AM
He should be pardoned, even though I know he won't be. Whistleblowers who reveal government wrongdoing should not be punished, as they are an extremely important part of democracy.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 18 2019, @11:19AM
I could agree to that but only in the following scenario:
He uncovered unconstitutional behaviour from domestic enemies. These enemies need to be hunted down and tried alongside him. That means conspiracy charges, negligence, aiding and abetting, ... up to treason for a whole lot of people. Everyone that knew about this program, but did not do what Snowden did, should be on trial.
Why should Snowden face trial for being the only one that did the RIGHT AND ILLEGAL action, while a whole bunch of others are not on trial for doing the WRONG AND ILLEGAL actions?