Edward Snowden is considered a "Patriot of Free Press" due to his act of exposing USA government's habit of mass surveillance during times of democracy. After he published these NSA documents, there was a paradigm shift in the coverage of national security information.
As an informant of secret and illegal government activity, he put himself at great risk for the public good. On his own, he triggered a global reconsideration over the limits of government surveillance and the protection of our basic individual rights.
After in 2013 the NSA surveillance program was declared unconstitutional, it was considered that Snowden should be givem complete freedom from prosecution, as well as the possibility to continue with his life in America with total normality.
On the other hand, he was considered a "Traitor under the Espionage Act". According to federal government, he stole government property and violated sections 793(d) and 798(a)(3) of the Espionage Act. For this crime, people can face prison sentences of a maximum of thirty years.
Although officials identified Snowden as a traitor, he was not accused of treason, and is not intended to be so, since such crime demands that a person really wages war against USA or conspires against US by making alliances with the countrie's enemies.
