Snowden: I Raised NSA Concerns Internally Over 10 Times Before Going Rogue - WaPo

[OilemFirchen]

420. Testimonial evidence IS evidence.

Everything is "evidence", as in proof or disproof of something.

It can even be self-referential: there is a pebble - which is evidence that the pebble exists.

In the context of this conversation, however, Snowden's statement, though evidence in a rhetorical sense, is otherwise a simple utterance. Were there a legal proceeding in which this utterance has testimonial value (is relevant), then it could be considered testimonial evidence. The existing warrant charges him with Theft of Government Property, Unauthorized Communication of National Defense Information and Willful Communication of Classified Communications Intelligence Information to an Unauthorized Person. His statement that he reached out to others before the commission of his crime is irrelevant to the charges. It could be used in his defense, but only if presented during trial. Otherwise, it's literally neither here nor there.

In simpler terms, a man on the run from robbery charges may say to his friends that the reached out to his family and friends seeking money before the commission of his crime. That, even if true, in and of itself is not evidence of anything.