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How does one get a fair trial in any nation with a free press and freedom of speech then? If the jury has been tampered with, it has been by the incessant medi

by mpyne 13y ago

How does one get a fair trial in any nation with a free press and freedom of speech then? If the jury has been tampered with, it has been by the incessant media coverage, which is permitted by the wide-ranging protections on the press, protections which Snowden is fighting for along with the rest of our Bill of Rights, no?

Zigurd 13y ago
We could start by punishing some of the prosecutors who are particularly notorious for creating these conditions.
- mpyne 13y ago
  What prosecutors are responsible for the 24/7 news cycle?
pfortuny 13y ago
First of all, you need a trial. Go ask the people at Guantanamo. Then it needs to be fair. Which means that both parties (the State and the individual, in this case) abide by the same laws. This is what is tricky, but in this case, Snowden could point out that (simplifying a lot): * The law he is abiding by is the Constitution. * The prosecutors will claim that he has broken other laws which have not been deemed unconstitutional. * While those laws are reviewed (if they are, upon his appeal), he will not be treated justly (which to him probably seems quite likely).
- twoodfin 13y ago
  The law he is abiding by is the Constitution. Where in the Constitution is the right to flee the United States with laptops full of classified information you illegally obtained? Snowden has clearly committed serious crimes. It's fine to argue they were somehow for the greater good—though I'm not sure what "greater good" carelessly exposing classified information to the Russians and Chinese might be serving—but it seems like the government could present a slam dunk case against him while entirely respecting his rights.
  - pfortuny 13y ago
    Well, yes. You know: he could not do it from the US, so he decides to break a lesser important law for the greater good.
alan_cx 13y ago
Well, in the US you cant. Defendants are demonized by the police even before they reach trial. Note how Snowden is already a guilty traitor before even arrest, let alone trial. In the UK we are incredible careful about what is said in the press until guilt is found.

by mpyne 13y ago

Zigurd 13y ago

We could start by punishing some of the prosecutors who are particularly notorious for creating these conditions.

mpyne 13y ago
What prosecutors are responsible for the 24/7 news cycle?

pfortuny 13y ago

First of all, you need a trial. Go ask the people at Guantanamo. Then it needs to be fair. Which means that both parties (the State and the individual, in this case) abide by the same laws. This is what is tricky, but in this case, Snowden could point out that (simplifying a lot): * The law he is abiding by is the Constitution. * The prosecutors will claim that he has broken other laws which have not been deemed unconstitutional. * While those laws are reviewed (if they are, upon his appeal), he will not be treated justly (which to him probably seems quite likely).

twoodfin 13y ago
The law he is abiding by is the Constitution. Where in the Constitution is the right to flee the United States with laptops full of classified information you illegally obtained? Snowden has clearly committed serious crimes. It's fine to argue they were somehow for the greater good—though I'm not sure what "greater good" carelessly exposing classified information to the Russians and Chinese might be serving—but it seems like the government could present a slam dunk case against him while entirely respecting his rights.
- pfortuny 13y ago
  Well, yes. You know: he could not do it from the US, so he decides to break a lesser important law for the greater good.

alan_cx 13y ago

Well, in the US you cant. Defendants are demonized by the police even before they reach trial. Note how Snowden is already a guilty traitor before even arrest, let alone trial. In the UK we are incredible careful about what is said in the press until guilt is found.