4 ms·

legal question: How can Snowden submit a declaration while he is effectively considered a legal enemy of the state?

by xupybd 8y ago

JumpCrisscross 8y ago
> while he is effectively considered a legal enemy of the state? We don’t really describe people as enemies of the state in America. Snowden is accused of certain crimes, and has the right to communicate with legal counsel. Such counsel could provide this attestation to a court.
- ry_ry 8y ago
  https://mobile.twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/457314934473633792?lang=en https://mobile.twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/4573149344... Were he to try to return to US soil, I'm not sure Snowden would be able to rely on that being much more than a legal technicality. Especially with the current Russian climate. He has enemies within the state department, which amounts to the same thing, and any public trial would be at best politically charged.
  - mikejb 8y ago
    That's orthogonal, but yeah, whistleblowers aren't very well protected. They're often still charged with laws aimed against spies, which is ridiculous. The state's aim in these cases is to set an example, and avoid people being inspired to do the same. (My 'favorite' example is John Kiriakou - the only person (I'm aware of) to go to prison for the US' torture program. The one who publicized it.)
- DKnoll 8y ago
  A person (and other entities) can be legally considered an enemy of the state if they engage in 'hostilities' towards the US per 50 USCS § 2204. Although I think this would include people like Osama Bin Laden rather than Edward Snowden.
- xupybd 8y ago
  Sorry I didn’t mean to offend. I thought that was the correct term. I think I asked the question incorrectly too. It’s more will a court recognise his attestation while charges stand against him. I’d have thought his charges would hold special status as I though he was accused of treason.
  - jjeaff 8y ago
    Innocent until proven guilty.

legal question: How can Snowden submit a declaration while he is effectively considered a legal enemy of the state?

by xupybd 8y ago

legal question: How can Snowden submit a declaration while he is effectively considered a legal enemy of the state?

> while he is effectively considered a legal enemy of the state? We don’t really describe people as enemies of the state in America. Snowden is accused of certain crimes, and has the right to communicate with legal counsel. Such counsel could provide this attestation to a court.

ry_ry 8y ago
https://mobile.twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/457314934473633792?lang=en https://mobile.twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/4573149344... Were he to try to return to US soil, I'm not sure Snowden would be able to rely on that being much more than a legal technicality. Especially with the current Russian climate. He has enemies within the state department, which amounts to the same thing, and any public trial would be at best politically charged.
- mikejb 8y ago
  That's orthogonal, but yeah, whistleblowers aren't very well protected. They're often still charged with laws aimed against spies, which is ridiculous. The state's aim in these cases is to set an example, and avoid people being inspired to do the same. (My 'favorite' example is John Kiriakou - the only person (I'm aware of) to go to prison for the US' torture program. The one who publicized it.)
DKnoll 8y ago
A person (and other entities) can be legally considered an enemy of the state if they engage in 'hostilities' towards the US per 50 USCS § 2204. Although I think this would include people like Osama Bin Laden rather than Edward Snowden.
xupybd 8y ago
Sorry I didn’t mean to offend. I thought that was the correct term. I think I asked the question incorrectly too. It’s more will a court recognise his attestation while charges stand against him. I’d have thought his charges would hold special status as I though he was accused of treason.
- jjeaff 8y ago
  Innocent until proven guilty.