Edward Snowden on Home, Whistleblowing, and the Espionage Act

🏡Edward Snowden views the United States as his home but emphasizes the need for government guarantees of whistleblower rights in order to return.

⚖️Snowden believes that whistleblowers should have the right to explain their motivations and actions in a fair trial, with the jury ultimately deciding the verdict.

🔒He points out the limitations of the Espionage Act, which hinders whistleblowers' rights by treating disclosures to journalists as equivalent to espionage.

💼Snowden expresses a willingness to help secure the country's election systems from attack, highlighting his commitment to public service.

🇷🇺He maintains a critical view of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian government's record on human rights.

Can Edward Snowden return to the United States?

—Snowden is willing to return to the United States, but he emphasizes the need for government guarantees of whistleblower rights.

What is the Espionage Act?

—The Espionage Act is a law that treats disclosures to journalists by whistleblowers as equivalent to espionage, limiting their ability to defend their actions.

Would Edward Snowden work for the United States government to improve election security?

—Snowden expresses a willingness to volunteer his skills to help secure the country's election systems from attack.

What is Edward Snowden's view on Vladimir Putin?

—Snowden maintains a critical view of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian government's record on human rights.

Has Edward Snowden's opinion of Donald Trump changed?

—Snowden believes that Donald Trump seeks popularity and that his actions are informed by a transactional mindset.

00:00Snowden states that the United States is his home and that he would return under the condition of government guarantees of whistleblower rights.

05:00He highlights the limitations of the Espionage Act, which treats disclosures to journalists as equivalent to espionage and restricts whistleblowers' ability to explain their motivations in court.

10:00Snowden expresses a willingness to volunteer his skills to help secure the country's election systems from potential attacks.

15:00He maintains a critical view of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian government's record on human rights.

20:00Snowden discusses the transactional mindset of Donald Trump and emphasizes the importance of facts in a democracy.