Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act process involves bringing the matter and any evidence to the Department of Justice. The DoJ then has a fixed

Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act process involves bringing the matter and any evidence to the Department of Justice. The DoJ then has a fixed time to either investigate or decide not to investigate. If they decide not to investigate the whistleblower can bring their complaint and evidence to the staff of the Senate Intelligence committee for the committee to decide if further investigation by the committee is warranted. If the DoJ does investigate they have to notify the Senate Intelligence committee of the investigation. If Snowden had attempted to follow the lawful procedure there would be evidence of it at the DoJ, the Senate Intelligence committee and Snowden himself would have evidence due to his correspondence with the DoJ and Senate Intelligence committee.