As observed by court recorder, Nataya Culler.
Many sat awaiting the trail. The Defense was shaky, intimidated, and cautious of the absent persecution. The honorable judge, Briana Moore, sat confidently as the jury requested an extra two minutes for their question period. This is approved and the room waits for the trial to begin. When questioned how they felt about the trial and how it would play out Judge Moore responded “I’m feeling pretty good. . . I don’t really know, it can go either way. Both sides seem pretty prepared and it depends on what the jury decides.”
People filter in, some nervous and unsure of how this will turn out while the jury sets up their equipment prepared to take notes and capturing a few pictures. “He’s not guilty of espionage” commented The Defense’s Testimonial Witness Laurin Paradise. Snowden enters and seems confident in his team’s ability and seems to have had too many photo shoots for a man in hiding.The court members enjoy light conversation in the absence of the persecution and the judge gives a
Snowden enters and seems confident in his team’s ability and seems to have had too many photo shoots for a man in hiding.The court members enjoy light conversation in the absence of the persecution and the judge gives a two-minute warning. They are all unaware of the turn of events that will take place in this very room. The persecution enters and the trial begins. This was 7:00pm Tuesday, May 3, 2016.
The Judge introduces the two sides and the charges, stating that Mr. Snowden has been granted a fair trial and allows the persecution to begin. They repeat the charges reminding everyone that this is not a trial about how the people feel but on the laws that he broke. Snowden is called to the stand and questioned mercilessly on the charges, pleading guilty to two and innocent to stealing government documentation. Snowden stated that he did try to go through the proper channels with his concerns and although he knowingly broke protocol he had no intent to sabotage the NSA. His defense team made the courtroom very aware that his intent was not to harm but to protect the privacy of the people and his actions were within the public’s interest. Time was not of importance as both sides asked lengthy questions, hassled the witnesses, and continued to persuade the opinions of the jury. The jury inquired as to why Snowden believed he was not guilty of stealing government documentation if there were protections at the NSA during the time of his employment, and if he valued national privacy over foreign privacy. Snowden believed he had not stolen government property because the information he released was already illegally taken from the people and he was returning it to them. The prosecution’s witness explained that there were protections that would have allowed him to go through the proper channels without breaking the law. Snowden also stated that he valued the national privacy but also believed that people abroad had the right to know they were being spied on.
With that final information and closing statements, the jury set off to reach a final decision, one that would ultimately determine the fate of Edward Snowden. The absence of the jury left the room cool and still as both sides could not longer plead their case. The only thing they could do was wait and hope that the information they had prepared would work in their favor. After a long and tense waiting session the jury had returned and after much discussion and debate, after hearing both sides, after processing all the information, they had determined that for all three charges for the case of Edward Snowden the jury was hung.