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United States Files Civil Lawsuit Against Edward Snowden

justice.gov

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Re: United States Files Civil Lawsuit Against Edward Snowden

#31

Post by ceejayoz »

sarcasmatwork wrote: post #19
mcpherrinm wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having known other people who have worked for the NSA, they've had to clear any publications with them before publishing (eg, academic papers in a field related to their work, resumes describing work done at the NSA, etc). My understanding is they're enforcable for the rest of your life. I'd expect to see this if anybody published a book without clearance. It's only newsworthy because it's Snowden.

This all makes sense to me. I share your same expectations. Now, I'd also expect Snowden to make sure he is not breaching those NDA's. Afaik, he is not one to make these types of mistakes. Looking forward to his response.

> Now, I'd also expect Snowden to make sure he is not breaching those NDA's.

You... you know who Snowden is, right?

Re: United States Files Civil Lawsuit Against Edward Snowden

#32

Post by bb88 »

HashThis wrote: post #21

This is the "It is illegal to inform the citizen base that the government has removed their constitutional right" lawsuit. The NSA and FBI removed every US citizen of their constitutional right, to privacy. Edward Snowden informed the US citzen base on their constitutional rights being removed. This lawsuit is the government saying it is illegal for any US citizen to inform all other citizens when the government remo…

Rightly or wrongly, that is not a part of the SF86 form when one applies for a clearance.

The SF86 form offers no leeway for moral objections. So in such a scenario, it would be better to not submit the SF86 form in the first place.

The only people I'm aware of that can publish classified information without punishment are journalists.

Re: United States Files Civil Lawsuit Against Edward Snowden

#33

Post by reaperducer »

Can one of the internet lawyers out there explain why this is a civil lawsuit, and not a criminal lawsuit?

I'd think that if he committed an actual crime, it would be a criminal suit. I thought civil suits were for people trying to get money out of each other.

Or is this like how the feds couldn't get Al Capone for murder so they put him away for tax evasion?

Re: United States Files Civil Lawsuit Against Edward Snowden

#34

Post by ta1234567890 »

lawnchair_larry wrote: post #27

”The United States’ lawsuit does not seek to stop or restrict the publication or distribution of Permanent Record. Rather, under well-established Supreme Court precedent, Snepp v. United States, the government seeks to recover all proceeds earned by Snowden because of his failure to submit his publication for pre-publication review in violation of his alleged contractual and fiduciary obligations.” What? Either he re…

I would say it's more like the 50% tax on drugs: yes it is illegal to sell (illegal) drugs, but if you still do it, then you need to pay taxes on the money you make selling them.

They either get you for doing the illegal thing or for the money you should have paid them while doing it.

Re: United States Files Civil Lawsuit Against Edward Snowden

#36

Post by noobiemcfoob »

r00fus wrote: post #24
HashThis wrote: post #21

This is the "It is illegal to inform the citizen base that the government has removed their constitutional right" lawsuit. The NSA and FBI removed every US citizen of their constitutional right, to privacy. Edward Snowden informed the US citzen base on their constitutional rights being removed. This lawsuit is the government saying it is illegal for any US citizen to inform all other citizens when the government remo…

Is there a constitutional right to privacy? Where is that enshrined? I say this as someone who values privacy for all.

It's one of those amendment thingies.

Re: United States Files Civil Lawsuit Against Edward Snowden

#38

Post by munk-a »

devoply wrote: post #18

> government seeks to recover all proceeds earned by Snowden because of his failure to submit his publication for pre-publication review in violation of his alleged contractual and fiduciary obligations. You aint gonna get rich off this, boy. If Snowden would sell the book online via Bitcoin and then have it shipped from wherever to the customers. How would they seize that money from him even if they got a judgment a…

Evading the ability for law enforcement to track your activities isn't the same as following the law - I agree with a lot of other folks that this lawsuite is BS, but covertly shipping the book would give the US Government a pretty big motivation to just seize Snowden's assets.

Re: United States Files Civil Lawsuit Against Edward Snowden

#39

Post by randcraw »

r00fus wrote: post #24
HashThis wrote: post #21

This is the "It is illegal to inform the citizen base that the government has removed their constitutional right" lawsuit. The NSA and FBI removed every US citizen of their constitutional right, to privacy. Edward Snowden informed the US citzen base on their constitutional rights being removed. This lawsuit is the government saying it is illegal for any US citizen to inform all other citizens when the government remo…

Is there a constitutional right to privacy? Where is that enshrined? I say this as someone who values privacy for all.

Yes, the 4th and 14th amendments are most often cited, but others also apply. For more see here...

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/rightof...

https://injury.findlaw.com/torts-and-personal-injuries/is-th...

Re: United States Files Civil Lawsuit Against Edward Snowden

#40

Post by larkeith »

reaperducer wrote: post #33

Can one of the internet lawyers out there explain why this is a civil lawsuit, and not a criminal lawsuit? I'd think that if he committed an actual crime, it would be a criminal suit. I thought civil suits were for people trying to get money out of each other. Or is this like how the feds couldn't get Al Capone for murder so they put him away for tax evasion?

There is already a separate criminal suit; this one is just trying to prevent him from profiting from his book, due to it (allegedly) containing intelligence info and violating his NDA.

From the link: "This lawsuit is separate from the criminal charges brought against Snowden for his alleged disclosures of classified information. This lawsuit is a civil action, and based solely on Snowden’s failure to comply with the clear pre-publication review obligations included in his signed non-disclosure agreements. "

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