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After 43 years, activists admit theft of FBI office that exposed domestic spying

"The disclosure by a person, usually an employee in a government agency or private enterprise, to the public or to those in authority, of mismanagement, corruption, illegality, or some other wrongdoing."
Whistleblowing legal definition of Whistleblowing. Whistleblowing synonyms by the Free Online Law Dictionary.

"whis·tle–blow·er
noun \-ˌblō-ər\

: a person who tells police, reporters, etc., about something (such as a crime) that has been kept secret
Full Definition of WHISTLE-BLOWER
: one who reveals something covert or who informs against another <pledges to protect whistle–blowers who fear reprisals — Wall Street Journal>"
Whistle-blower - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Going to prison or Guantanamo, torture, solitary confinement or other martyrdom are not required to meet the definition.

Yep. Whistle blower protection. Something candidate Obama promised he was going to strengthen. In practice he has been locking them up.
 
He did not give anything to the Russians.

You know that, how?

The Russians said, "Yeah! Sure! C'mon in, free of charge. We know you're a traitor to The United States, but we don't want a single thing in return for the embaressment we're going to cause The United States".

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!!!!
 
You know that, how?

The Russians said, "Yeah! Sure! C'mon in, free of charge. We know you're a traitor to The United States, but we don't want a single thing in return for the embaressment we're going to cause The United States".

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!!!!


Because he and his attorney have both stated he didn't.
 
Because he and his attorney have both stated he didn't.

And, Snowden wouldn't lie, neither. I mean, he might be a thief and a traitor, but he draws the line at being a liar? :lamo
 
And, Snowden wouldn't lie, neither. I mean, he might be a thief and a traitor, but he draws the line at being a liar? :lamo

Whistle blowers have protection under the LAW dude. They are not defined by law as criminals or traitors. I remain puzzled that your rights and freedoms including your right to privacy is invaluable to you. Strange.
 
Whistle blowers have protection under the LAW dude. They are not defined by law as criminals or traitors. I remain puzzled that your rights and freedoms including your right to privacy is invaluable to you. Strange.

And traitors don't.
 
And traitors don't.

He's not a traitor. He's a whistle blower on government wrong doing. Fascinating that you fail to understand that but so be it.
 
It's called, "due process".

Your post seems to suggest that assissinations would be acceptable.

lol... how do you use a court system to out information that is classified? You know what you'd get? Completely redacted papers at best.
 
When the head of the NSA lied to congress they became incapable of making an informed decision.

That dude should definitely be in jail.
 
When the head of
the NSA lied to congress they became incapable of making an informed decision.

This happened 40 years ago right ??

First, they broke the law, and they should be held accountable.

Second, how are they "whistleblowers" if they ran and hid for 40 years ?

They never identified as whistleblowers, they acted like criminals with something to hide.
 
He's not a traitor. He's a whistle blower
on government wrong doing. Fascinating that you fail to understand that but so be it.

Lol..

Just think of all the appeals as criminals every where apply the "whistleblower" defense.
 
This happened 40 years ago right ??

First, they broke the law, and they should be held accountable.

Second, how are they "whistleblowers" if they ran and hid for 40 years ?

They never identified as whistleblowers, they acted like criminals with something to hide.

The Church committee didn't seem nearly as concerned about that as they did about the FBI's violations of civil liberties, they saw the trump!
 
Lol..

Just think of all the appeals as criminals every where apply the "whistleblower" defense.

Criminals can't apply whistleblower defense, think of how silly you sound for saying that.
 
And traitors don't.

So how do we differentiate between the "whistleblowers" and the "traitors?" They often are breaking the same laws, involving disclosure of information that the government doesn't want disclosed. Obviously, the government doesn't want a whole slew of military secrets disclosed, but they are just as anxious to keep the public from knowing the extent to which they are watching us.

FTR - I'm not willing to confer hero status on Snowden or the people who made us aware of FBI domestic surveillance, because I could see people like that causing real harm. OTOH, I'm not sorry that the government's spying on us got revealed.
 
So how do we differentiate between the "whistleblowers" and the "traitors?" They often are breaking the same laws, involving disclosure of information that the government doesn't want disclosed. Obviously, the government doesn't want a whole slew of military secrets disclosed, but they are just as anxious to keep the public from knowing the extent to which they are watching us.

FTR - I'm not willing to confer hero status on Snowden or the people who made us aware of FBI domestic surveillance, because I could see people like that causing real harm. OTOH, I'm not sorry that the government's spying on us got revealed.

Whistleblowers don't steal classified information and give it to a foreign government, for starters.
 
Whistleblowers don't steal classified information and give it to a foreign government, for starters.

I see that you keep repeating that, however it has not been established and you cannot prove it.
 
I see that you keep repeating that, however it has not been established and you cannot prove it.

Snowden didn't STEAL classified information and flee to another country?
 
So how do we differentiate between the "whistleblowers" and the "traitors?" They often are breaking the same laws, involving disclosure of information that the government doesn't want disclosed. Obviously, the government doesn't want a whole slew of military secrets disclosed, but they are just as anxious to keep the public from knowing the extent to which they are watching us.

FTR - I'm not willing to confer hero status on Snowden or the people who made us aware of FBI domestic surveillance, because I could see people like that causing real harm. OTOH, I'm not sorry that the government's spying on us got revealed.

It's very, very easy to differentiate between the two. Why some of these people intentionally try to blur the lines is perplexing, because if they are Americans, they are likely the beneficiary of the whistle blower whereas they would quite possibly be the victim of a traitor. First though, you might go look at the definition of a whistle blower, and check out the laws in place to protect them. Additionally, check out the definition of traitor and note the absence of any laws to protect them. A whistle blower will "blow the whistle" if you will on wrong doing, or crime. If a person, a business or a local, state or federal government is committing a crime and or violating a law or laws and an individual reveals that, it's completely impossible and most ridiculous to classify them as a traitor. And, there are laws to protect them from retribution or revenge.

I own a business and have contracts with the government. I am required by law to inform my employees of both their right, and obligation to report any crime or violation of a law that they witness at the work place, moreover, I have to provide them with names and phone numbers of the appropriate individuals to contact in that event.

A traitor divulges information or supplies aid and comfort or material to a known enemy that might be used to endanger, harm or threaten the security of our country and its citizens (of course if you'll look it up you can get the detailed long version)

Ed Snowden and glenn Greenwald made clear at the outset that both the Guardians attorneys and attorneys from an outside source had reviewed the materials they would be disclosing to ensure there would be nothing that would be damaging to Americas national security. Edward snowdens disclosures document the NSA's violation of all of our civil liberties primarily our fourth amendment rights. And, there are plenty of people such as constitutional lawyers, law professors, politicians from both sides of the isle and judges that have declared the NSA's domestic surveillance program to be unconstitutional.

Snowdens disclosures have sparked a national debate, and are causing foreign governments, ally's of ours to make changes in response.

You would also do yourself a service to look at Senator Church's warning about the NSA in the Church Committees report to congress, and the NSA' s capabilities way back then, 1976, and then imagine what it must be like now with the technological advances in the 37 years since. And hold onto your socks when you read it.
 
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This happened 40 years ago right ??

First, they broke the law, and they should be held accountable.

Second, how are they "whistleblowers" if they ran and hid for 40 years ?

They never identified as whistleblowers, they acted like criminals with something to hide.

They revealed the information to the press and public. There is nothing in the definition of whistlebower that says one must accept a likely punishment.

"The disclosure by a person, usually an employee in a government agency or private enterprise, to the public or to those in authority, of mismanagement, corruption, illegality, or some other wrongdoing."
Whistleblowing legal definition of Whistleblowing. Whistleblowing synonyms by the Free Online Law Dictionary.

"whis·tle–blow·er
noun \-ˌblō-ər\

: a person who tells police, reporters, etc., about something (such as a crime) that has been kept secret
Full Definition of WHISTLE-BLOWER
: one who reveals something covert or who informs against another <pledges to protect whistle–blowers who fear reprisals — Wall Street Journal>"
Whistle-blower - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary
 
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Lol..

Just think of all the appeals as criminals every where apply the "whistleblower" defense.

If someone stole a company's secrets to sell to their competitors it would not be whistleblowing. If someone stole a company's secrets to reveal to the press and public that they were doing something harmful or illegal it would be whistleblowing. Juries are usually smart enough to be able to discern he difference. I have not heard of any outrageously inappropriate acquitals based on a whistleblower defense.
 
Snowden didn't STEAL classified information and flee to another country?

You accused him of giving it to a foreign government/s. something you have no proof of.
 
Whistleblowers don't steal classified information and give it to a foreign government, for starters.

That would be spying. It is not what was done by those who revealed the FBI docs years ago, it was not done by Ellsberg, Manning or Snowden. All of them provided the information to the press and public.
 
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