Week 4 EOC: Edward Snowden

There has been a lot of controversy lately over the Edward Snowden case. There is no doubt that he leaked classified NSA documents, the question is how he should be prosecuted. Snowden has said that he just wanted the public to know what the government was doing.  "Even if you're not doing anything wrong you're being watched and recorded," he said. (http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/10/politics/edward-snowden-profile/index.html?iid=article_sidebar#cnn-disqus-area)

It doesn't surprise me to hear that the government is collecting information on everyone, but at the same time I believe that Mr. Snowden violated his contract and broke the law. In the same situation I would be very upset if I found out the information that he did, but he should have told his story in a different way. Some have called him a whistle blower, Without Edward Snowden's whistleblowing and Glenn Greenwald's reporting, NSA surveillance would still have been in the dark, protected by secrecy and bolstered by the "least untruthful" lies James Clapper delivered to Senator Ron Wyden. (theguardian.com), but is he guilty of treason? “This guy thinks he has a higher morality, that he can see clearer than other 299,999,999  of us, and therefore he can do what he wants. I say that is the worst form of treason.” — former U.N. ambassador John Bolton.

This is just one of many that have accused Mr. Snowden of treason, but there are some that don’t agree. In my quest to find out more information about this case I found an article in the Washington Post that gives a good definition of treason; Article Three, Section Three of the Constitution defines treason as follows: “Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court. The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.” (washingtonpost.com). Is Mr. Snowden guilty, yes, the question what will he be charged with. In my opinion if he really believes in what he did, then he needs to come home and face the consequences. He never denied what he did, so why run?