"My understanding is that espionage means giving secret or classified information to the enemy. Since (Edward) Snowden shared information with the American people, his indictment for espionage could reveal (or confirm) that the US Government views you and me as the enemy." - Congressman Ron Paul, M.D.
Shortly after President Obama took office I sensed he wanted to parent the country. Snowden, like other leakers, incited the wrath of a President consumed with image management. I predicted Snowden would face a monster wave of retaliation. That materialized and shows no signs of ending until Snowden is extradited or dead.
Snowden worked for Booz Allen Hamilton, an affiliate of The Carlyle Group. President Obama recently held an intimate dinner for Carlyle co-founder David Rubenstein. Rubenstein loaned The White House his copy of The Emancipation Proclamation, which hung in Obama's Oval Office. It would be no problem for Rubenstein to share his anger and desire for payback for Snowden denting Booz's value.
Note that no one is angry about Carlyle pulling nearly $1.2 billion in cash out of Booz via special dividends. As the government provides over 99% of Booz's revenue, taxpayers ensured Carlyle's billionaire co-founders got even richer. Booz paid Carlyle its special dividends via borrowings, which causes Uncle Sam to bear increased interest costs.
President Obama, numerous Congressmen and other government officials want payback in the worst way for Edward Snowden. They will get their way, The Government-Corporate Monstrosity, Eisenhower's Military Industrial Complex on trillions in federal steroids, will ensure it.
