This is where I'm on Gabbard's side. But not for the reasons you may think. The former Congresswoman from Hawai'i has some direct experience serving in the military and therefore knows about unit cohesion. She also basically knows but doesn't ever say that half of what the NSA does; whatever it is now doing, is utter BS. She seems tactful if not entirely genuine. Look who is pushing forward her nomination?
Despite being appointed by Donald Trump, Tulsi Gabbard actually may be more objective than her predecessor down the road. The last head of DNI would only toe the line on multiple issues including the #Snowden question.
I'd suggest that readers look less at what the Espionage Act is and instead examine the placement and timing of the US's Internal Security Act passed in 1950. The NSA itself was founded in 1952. The Internal Security Act more or less keeps the NSA functioning and in place. Elements of that are what Snowden was fighting against when he was a contractor for No Such Agency. He saw that whole #eavesdropping apparatus as unjust -- or plain, flat-out illegal.
50 U.S. Code § 783 - Offenses
" (a) Communication of classified information by Government officer or employee
It shall be unlawful for any officer or employee of the United States or of any department or agency thereof, or of any corporation the stock of which is owned in whole or in major part by the United States or any department or agency thereof, to communicate in any manner or by any means, to any other person whom such officer or employee knows or has reason to believe to be an agent or representative of any foreign government, any information of a kind which shall have been classified by the President (or by the head of any such department, agency, or corporation with the approval of the President) as affecting the security of the United States, knowing or having reason to know that such information has been so classified, unless such officer or employee shall have been specifically authorized by the President, or by the head of the department, agency, or corporation by which this officer or employee is employed, to make such disclosure of such information. "
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/29/us/politics/tulsi-gabbard-confirmation-edward-snowden.html
