Feds Charged Whistleblower Snowden In Secret Indictment

Edward J. Snowden

Whistleblower of the century seeking asylum in Iceland.

By H. Nelson Goodson

June 21, 2013

Alexandria, Verginia - On Friday, a federal three-count criminal complaint filed in a U.S. District Court on June 14 against a former National Security Agency (NSA) contract employee from Booz Allen Hamilton was unsealed. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) filed the complaint against whistleblower Edward J. Snowden charging him with theft of government documents, unauthorized communication of national defense information and willful communication of classified communications intelligence information to an authorized person.

If convicted, Snowden is facing 10 years in prison for each count. The feds filed a "provisional arrest warrant" with the Hong Kong police requesting for the immediate arrest of Snowden, who is believed staying in Hong Kong. No word, if the Hong Kong police will honor the U.S. government's warrant request.

Last month, Snowden leaked to The Guardian and the Washington Post damaging information that the NSA and the British governments were collected phone and internet data for at least seven years from Americans in the country and abroad. Snowden also provided information that the British government tapped, gathered internet information and phone details of calls made by diplomats while attending a summit. That information was shared with the NSA and data gathered by the NSA from Americans was also shared with the British intelligence agency.

Snowden recently released documents confirming the NSA had been also collecting e-mails and information from phone users and reading such data, which the NSA and President Barack H. Obama have denied of doing so.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange confirmed that Snowden lawyers have contacted him and have asked to helped Snowden get asylum in Iceland.

Five other former whistleblowers that had worked for the NSA have confirmed that the information leaked by Snowden was true. Snowden has become a hero for some Americans and to others, especially former Vice President Dick Chenny (R) a traitor. 

The U.S. Congress has not provided legislation to protect whistleblowers from prosecution, if they reveal or expose illegal activities by the NSA or other branches of the federal government. When the NSA states, they can't provide any information because of national security, it is most likely the activity engaged by the NSA is an illegal act.

The NSA has an oversight, which is a secret court that has given broad powers to the NSA in the guise of national security.