Posted on 06/13/2013 5:05:24 AM PDT by BarnacleCenturion
Edward Snowden has been called a traitor and accused of treason for his leaks of some of the nations top secrets.
But is there a case for the T-words?
Treason is a crime so old that its the only one specifically defined in the U.S. Constitution, but legal experts suggest its a charge that Snowden will most likely never face. And traitor seems to fit better in the world of Benedict Arnold and dueling pistols than in todays sea of electronic surveillance and top secret security clearances.
Constitutionally, treason is defined as whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere.
Thats a tough sell in Snowdens case, legal experts say. I do not believe it is treason, said George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley. There is nothing to suggest that his motivation was to assist our enemies or a foreign power.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
There’s no mention of “security clearances” or “oath” in the definition of treason posted above. There can be no question that many in the House and Senate since 2001 have given aid and comfort to the enemy with their words, actions, and inactions on various bills passed and defeated over the years. The matter of “adheres to their enemies” is apparently the threshold they haven’t crossed in as obvious a way.
“...Throw a rock over a fence into a pig pen and the pig that squeals the loudest is the one who got hit...”
Seriously, THE best description of Washington DC I have seen in a long time. Excellent.
Hat tip to you, brother.
I don’t give two sh!ts about ‘terrorism’ (exactly because of the open borders, visas like candy, Boston, etc.).
What I DO care about, and nobody is singing the praises...is the total abuse of the 4th Amendment. Another law/department that COMPLETELY runs rough-shod, but because they can dress it up in lipstick, they think they can sell me the pig?!
Bastards, each and every one of them.
If the NSA is spying on people, Malkin and people like her would be high on the list. So, how many of these people who call Snowden a traitor are afraid of what the NSA knows about them?
I agree with everything you said, BUT it is a program that the powers that be are using against the People and he merely corroborated what most of us already knew. Just because it's a law, doesn't make it legal. If it's illegal, then we really should know and the guy did us a favor. The same folks who claim it needed to remain secret because it "protects" us are those who ignored ample information and allowed the Boston bomber(s) free rein to do their damage.
Snowden was a unwilling player in a multi-year program by the Chinese to turn him. This guy was active in forums, and got very active in the last year or two with privacy of data and the government use of the data collected.
The timing of this is what ties Snowden to the Chinese....the week prior to the Palm Springs meeting with Obama.
It may take six months, but Snowden will eventually come around to realize that he was used, and I think his belief in all his efforts as helping liberty....will fall apart.
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