I don't understand why someone would have the docs and choose to hold them back while still going public. It ultimately weakens the story and his credibility, and if it is true, there's not much stopping the powers that he crossed in the process from coming after him anyway. The government isn't gonna go light on this guy simply because he didn't go to the press. They send a message to anyone who might be thinking about doing the same thing.
Maybe he avoids getting charged under the Espionage Act this way, but history shows very clearly that the pre-Snowden whistleblowers all had their careers ruined and still faced criminal charges. Love him or hate him, but Snowden went for the jugular and brought receipts while preventing the most damaging intel to human life from being leaked.
I mean, I agree that he should have leaked it publicly because I'm "publicly" and I want to see it. But I think it's pretty unarguably true that if you feel it is incumbent on you to leak classified materials and are unwilling to go Snowden and flee the US, then your best bet for not being arrested is to give the documents to Congress so they can support your testimony and protect you from retaliation, then not go to the media so the Pentagon doesn't hate your guts.
> then your best bet for not being arrested is to give the documents to Congress so they can support your testimony and protect you from retaliation
Congress wouldn't protect him from retaliation anyway. Thomas Drake was raided by the FBI and indicted even though he didn't leak any intelligence. You're making yourself an enemy of the government the moment you open your mouth, regardless of whether or not you bring documentation.
Maybe he avoids getting charged under the Espionage Act this way, but history shows very clearly that the pre-Snowden whistleblowers all had their careers ruined and still faced criminal charges. Love him or hate him, but Snowden went for the jugular and brought receipts while preventing the most damaging intel to human life from being leaked.