[f3llowtraveler]

He discovered evidence of unconstitutional (illegal) actions by those in government, with the potential to lead to an Orwellian society. He took on significant personal risk and made a huge sacrifice in order to inform the public of this government wrongdoing.

He fled because there is no chance of a fair trial. (You can Google the specifics, but he wouldn't have been able to present his case at trial -- not that he should be facing a trial in the first place, since he is a whistleblower, not a spy.)

He turned over the data to responsible journalists to make sure it was vetted properly and the public could be safely informed without jeopardizing national security.

He's a patriot and a hero. The fact that he is still living in Russia and being treated like a criminal by the U.S. government, instead of receiving a medal in the USA, is a strong indictment of our government and clear evidence of our ongoing loss of freedom.