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by krapp 4424 days ago
Bear in mind another point - believing Snowden needs to stand trial doesn't necessarily presume a belief that he's guilty, or should be punished, either. Americans also tend to believe the justice system works as advertised.
3 comments

As a matter of order, people should only stand trial if the government legitimately believes them guilty and the government believes it can prove this to a jury.

Trials aren't for finding out facts or uncovering the truth. They are the formal processes that a government must do after deciding that a citizen deserves punishment to actually effect their decision.

minor edits

This was be one of the easiest trials the government has ever had to put on though. Snowden admitted what he did himself, after all.
I for one feel he should not be punished under whistleblower laws, but I would be open to a proper trial. I would like to see that discussion in open court, not a secret tribunal where the outcome is only reported by the government doing the prosecution.

Which is why I think he should not return to face trial, because I think there's no way he'll ever get a fair and open trial in the US.

According to that poll, a majority of people also disapprove of what he did. But yes, very true.