Snowden says U.S. not offering fair trial if he returns

[rpannier]

62. From Perry Fellwock, the NSA's first whistleblower

“Most people in those days thought that the NSA and CIA worked for the U.S. government,” he said. “But they don’t. They’re an entity unto itself, a global entity that is comprised of the Five Eyes.” The Five Eyes is the informal name for the intelligence-sharing agreement between the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. “This community operates outside of the Constitution,” Fellwock said, “and from everything I’ve seen, it still does.”


Staying in the US likely would have been hanging himself.
Don't agree with me, that's fine.
But, the attorney's for Ray McGovern, Coleen Rowley and Thomas Drake, think staying would be a mistake
The three went through proper channels and '... The inspector general was the one who gave their names to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution under the Espionage Act. And they were all targets of a federal criminal investigation, and Mr Drake ended up being prosecuted.'

Annie Machon, and M15 whistle blower fled the UK to avoid being prosecuted. She and David Shayler leaked significant crimes committed by M15. You probably think they should have stayed as well.
When Mr. Shayler returned, every piece of information he used in his defense, he was required to give to the prosecution.

Only a fool would stay