Snowden's leaks were damaging to the members of this committee, because they showed the American public that the American intelligence apparatus is not subject to any meaningful oversight. So it is entirely predictable that the members of this committee would try to protect themselves by shifting focus to Snowden, away from their criminality.
Three years have elapsed since Snowden's revelations, and the intelligence community has not been able to show how the leaks have compromised national security. This is why the signatories of this letter have to avail themselves to gauzy arguments about Snowden's character and insinuations of collusion with Russia or China.
Three years have elapsed since Snowden's revelations, and the intelligence community has not been able to show how the leaks have compromised national security. This is why the signatories of this letter have to avail themselves to gauzy arguments about Snowden's character and insinuations of collusion with Russia or China.