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I have to say: I think Snowden is a hero, but based on what I know right now I'm not sympathetic to Reality Winner. To me, it seems like this leak undermined s

I have to say: I think Snowden is a hero, but based on what I know right now I'm not sympathetic to Reality Winner. To me, it seems like this leak undermined several ongoing investigations and hurt our chances of getting to the truth. (With this information exposed, anyone being investigated will have their guard up now.) I wonder: what was she thinking? I imagine she must have thought she was doing the right thing (rather than leaking for personal gain). Did she think this information would not reach the public for some reason? It's clear she didn't like Trump. Was this really just a reckless leak?

DarkKomunalec 9y ago
First they claim electronic voting is safe, then they keep secret incidents which might make the public think otherwise. Ensuring the public gets a secure voting method (paper) is much more important than catching who did it. And I'm far from confident this incident would have eventually been made public.
hd4 9y ago
Wait what? It corroborates rather than undermines any investigation into what went on during the election process. Anyone in the NSA reading about this (i.e. everyone in the NSA) will now have all the more reason to step forward if they really care about the truth.
FullMtlAlcoholc 9y ago
> Did she think this information would not reach the public for some reason? Considering Trump ostensibly, and in his own words, fired Comey for not bringing the investigation into the "Russian" connection[0] to a swift end and that there was a possibility that he could have prevented Comey from testifying, it's pretty reasonable to assume she was acting under he assumption that this information may never see the light of day. I do feel some pity for her as her prosecution and likely sentencing will not only serve as a warning for future leakers (just another highly flawed judicial concept in the American "justice" system), it will likely be handled in some capacity by Jeff Sessions, a paleolithic scumbag who sees our incarceration rates and prison environments as a feature, not a bug. [0] http://bigthink.com/videos/jordan-greenhall-how-russias-election-meddling-created-a-new-kind-of-propaganda http://bigthink.com/videos/jordan-greenhall-how-russias-elec... -Short, yet fascinating talk about the evolution, structure and operation of modern day propaganda
- Chris2048 9y ago
  > in his own words, fired Comey for not bringing the investigation into the "Russian" connection to a swift end Do you have a quote of this?
  - FullMtlAlcoholc 9y ago
    Do you live under a rock and aren't aware of the interview he gave the day after the firing? From TFV: Trump told NBC's Lester Holt: "And in fact when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said 'you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story, it's an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won'." Directly contradicting his first explanation that the AG and Dep AG recommended it first. There's also his bragging to the Russians: "I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job,” Mr. Trump said, according to the document, which was read to The New York Times by an American official. “I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off Would you like to know more? Tune in to Comey's testimony on Thursday
    - Chris2048 9y ago
      Those statements aren't conclusive. Trump believes the Russia investigation is a distraction, maybe it is, but you implication is there is a deliberate attempt to hobble the investigation by firing Comey; That's a different charge. I'm not too impressed by the selective leaks either. > Directly contradicting his first explanation that the AG and Dep AG recommended it first. The hypothetical "I would have fired Comey anyway" is not a contradiction. Also, the relationship between the russian investigation, and Comeys firing is unclear - Trump has previously criticised Comey's handling of the case as well - there is no reason an ongoing bu as yet inconclusive investigation should be leaking insinuations in the background; There's a difference between an investigation, and an investigation used as a political weapon.

DarkKomunalec 9y ago

First they claim electronic voting is safe, then they keep secret incidents which might make the public think otherwise. Ensuring the public gets a secure voting method (paper) is much more important than catching who did it. And I'm far from confident this incident would have eventually been made public.

hd4 9y ago

Wait what? It corroborates rather than undermines any investigation into what went on during the election process. Anyone in the NSA reading about this (i.e. everyone in the NSA) will now have all the more reason to step forward if they really care about the truth.

FullMtlAlcoholc 9y ago

> Did she think this information would not reach the public for some reason? Considering Trump ostensibly, and in his own words, fired Comey for not bringing the investigation into the "Russian" connection[0] to a swift end and that there was a possibility that he could have prevented Comey from testifying, it's pretty reasonable to assume she was acting under he assumption that this information may never see the light of day. I do feel some pity for her as her prosecution and likely sentencing will not only serve as a warning for future leakers (just another highly flawed judicial concept in the American "justice" system), it will likely be handled in some capacity by Jeff Sessions, a paleolithic scumbag who sees our incarceration rates and prison environments as a feature, not a bug. [0] http://bigthink.com/videos/jordan-greenhall-how-russias-election-meddling-created-a-new-kind-of-propaganda http://bigthink.com/videos/jordan-greenhall-how-russias-elec... -Short, yet fascinating talk about the evolution, structure and operation of modern day propaganda

Chris2048 9y ago
> in his own words, fired Comey for not bringing the investigation into the "Russian" connection to a swift end Do you have a quote of this?
- FullMtlAlcoholc 9y ago
  Do you live under a rock and aren't aware of the interview he gave the day after the firing? From TFV: Trump told NBC's Lester Holt: "And in fact when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said 'you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story, it's an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won'." Directly contradicting his first explanation that the AG and Dep AG recommended it first. There's also his bragging to the Russians: "I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job,” Mr. Trump said, according to the document, which was read to The New York Times by an American official. “I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off Would you like to know more? Tune in to Comey's testimony on Thursday
  - Chris2048 9y ago
    Those statements aren't conclusive. Trump believes the Russia investigation is a distraction, maybe it is, but you implication is there is a deliberate attempt to hobble the investigation by firing Comey; That's a different charge. I'm not too impressed by the selective leaks either. > Directly contradicting his first explanation that the AG and Dep AG recommended it first. The hypothetical "I would have fired Comey anyway" is not a contradiction. Also, the relationship between the russian investigation, and Comeys firing is unclear - Trump has previously criticised Comey's handling of the case as well - there is no reason an ongoing bu as yet inconclusive investigation should be leaking insinuations in the background; There's a difference between an investigation, and an investigation used as a political weapon.