[Ansil849]

> Why does half the entire read just focus on destroying this guys character?

Yeah, this was my question reading this piece as well. This article overwhelmingly reads like uncritical character assassination. I think whether the guy was a giant dick to coworkers should be tangential at best, if not outright irrelevant, but definitely not the centerpiece of the story, and yet it is.

[NoGravitas]

You're quite right, and the answer to the original question is "Because the US mainstream media are, knowingly or not, part of the US national security establishment's propaganda wing." But apparently, domestic propaganda is something only $BAD_COUNTRY engages in.

[buitreVirtual]

The description of his character is a fascinating part of the story. Keep in mind that this a story, and not (just) an indictment. Showing his character is also critical background for the reader to understand why he allegedly leaked that backup.