The NSA surveillance crisis hit a predictable turn over the last 24 hours. Eric Snowden is the man who leaked documents of government officials collecting data from our cell phones and computers. Now, US authorities have a warrant for his arrest and are asking Hong Kong to detain him.
Snowden is being charged with theft and espionage. The complaint was filed in an Eastern Virginia District Court, home of Snowden’s former employer. Also predictable, the Justice Department says, “No comment.” They want to prosecute Snowden under the 1917 Espionage Act. So far, the Obama Administration has indicted more people under this act than any other presidency. In fact, of the nine people arrested in violation of the Espionage Act, six have been since 2009. Will Hong Kong give him up? That has to be seen. If they do,?it’s likely he won’t be sent to an American jail, but?Hong Kong’s maximum security prison throughout his?potential trial.?Another option for Snowden is asylum under the United Nations.
So what now? The Snowden case is far from over. It would be interesting to see where Hong Kong will stand. It will be interesting to see if the UN will try to give him asylum. I tell you what, if this case goes to trial, it will make the OJ Simpson trial of the mid 1990s look like small claims court! Now, it’s been revealed Britain has been spying on it’s citizens. So everyone will have a stake in this case. If the US vs. Snowden case did make trial, which side would?you be on?