As news breaks that Edward Snowden has been charged with espionage and has left Hong Kong, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee is announcing today that we raised over $25,000 for this defense fund at SnowdenDefenseFund.com for his legal fees. This came from over 1,300 small dollar donations, with the average donation being around $22.
Edward Snowden is a whistleblower — he revealed that the Director of National Intelligence lied to Congress about whether the government was collecting millions of phone and Internet records from ordinary Americans. Lying to Congress is a crime, and this program is likely unconstitutional.
Glenn Greenwald, who broke the NSA spying story inAi??The GuardianAi??newspaper,explained Ai??toAi??MSNBC’s Chris HayesAi??how Snowden’s actions are not espionage:
GREENWALD: I think itai??i??s very surprising to accuse someone of espionage who hasnai??i??t worked for a foreign government, who didnai??i??t covertly pass information to an adversary [or] enemy of the United States, who didnai??i??t sell any top secret information […] Ai??[Snowden] simply went to newspapers, asked newspapers to very carefully vet the information to make sure that the only thing being published are things that informed his fellow citizens but doesnai??i??t harm national security. That is not espionage in any real sense of the word.
At the end of the day, this is about whether the people own their democracy. The people depend on Congress to represent us and exercise oversight. If a secret part of our government can break the law, lie to Congress, and spy on millions of ordinary Americans, than the people donai??i??t own their government.
Edward Snowden is a traitor to the United States. He belongs in jail as do many others who have committed crimes in and against the U.S. but instead are slapped on the wrists. He should not be allowed to be telling other countries what he discovered about the U.S. He shouldn’t even have access. Has he taken an oath of confidentiality? We have spies who do the work that needs to be done. He not a legitimate spy. Spies don’t inform the Public, much less other countries. Besides, George Bush started this and got away with it; why blame President Obama… because of the color of his skin? Shameful!
Snowden is a hero. We have fourth amendment rights. The congress lied to the nation, they have no right to spy on millions of Americans…Congress using tax payer money to spy on innocent people is criminal. This program did not need to be “secret” and in no way would people have approved them tapping into our txt messages..which is part of the data they are collecting randomly. We have a right to know they are collecting our data and how they are using it and how they store it. No third party should be allowed to tap into our contracts with our phone companies..or the services we PAY FOR. Who gave corperations the right, and who gave the government the right to abuse our legeal system and abuse our constitution? When we sign a contract with a company like verizion, they should not be allowed to change it at will, with out our approval or knowledge..we never agreed to allow them to “Share” publicly” our phone information.
Ed Snowden could be my son and I’m very worried about his safety. He has exposed corruption in the US Government. Thank you Edward Snowden for empowering the people to take back our country from the terrorists within!
Ed should face punishment for breaking his contractual obligations to his employer and possibly removing company property from their premises. I’m sure he weighed the sacrifices he would make before leaving Hawaii.
The time for Patriots to ban together is now. Thank you Ed Snowden for proving to us what we have suspected.
Bureaucracy is out of control.
Edward Snowden is neither spy nor traitor. To say so is to be misinformed about the law and to slander his name. He is a whistleblower which at one time was sanctioned by Congress. The average citizen is unaware of the level of surveilance and criminalizing of outspoken citizens. PLEASE do your research before forming an opinion. There has never been this level of secrecy . In the name of terrorism and the fear it generates, many are being cowed to believing the violation of their human rights and protections under the constitution are justified. Not so. Fear breeds fear. Concern for all our safety is reasonable though not at the cost of our basic human rights. Stay informed, Demand Congress start dialogue with American people about what they are doing. What protections exist if any . There has been thus far, no conversation, no information and no oversight. This is unacceptable in a democracy. Peace to us all as we explore this important issue. May we work together in kindness and mutual regard as we move forward.