Edward Snowden: Hero Or Traitor

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Hero. Whistleblower. Patriot. Traitor. These are just a few of the names that Edward Snowden has been called. In June 2013 Snowden, a former system administrator for the CIA and counterintelligence trainer for the DIA, leaked thousands of classified documents on surveillance programs to the media. This leak triggered a security melt down. The leaks included the government’s methods and reasons for collecting on American people. In an interview with one of Britain's newspapers, The Guardian, Snowden said, “My sole motive is to inform the public as to that which is done in their name and that which is done against them." Snowden was able to archive this by the numerous high positions that he held during his tenure with the CIA and DIA. …show more content…
were astronomical, and it forced the government to address them. The government was split in whether Snowden was a “hero” or a “traitor.” Part of the U.S. government who consider him a hero and a whistleblower thinks the people of the United States should be informed of this information, and should stop trying to prosecute him for his actions. The others call him a traitor and want him to be punished for violating the Espionage Act of 1917 and 2 counts of theft of United States property, which can hold a sentence of 30 years if convicted (10 years for Espionage Act of 1917 and 10 years for theft of United States property ). At this point, intelligence agencies’ hands are tied; they have to prove to the people that these programs are necessary and they are not collecting on innocent people. Even in federal courts, high ranking CIA and DIA officials defended the government’s collection on people of the United