Snowden was charged under the Espionage Act. Statute of limitations = 10 years.

[joshcryer]

Section 3291 of Title 18 provides that prosecutions for violations of nationality, citizenship, and passport laws, or a conspiracy to violate such laws, shall be commenced within ten years after the commission of the offense. Section 19 of the Internal Security Act of 1950, 64 Stat. 1005, provides a ten-year limitations period for prosecutions under the espionage statutes, 18 U.S.C. Secs. 792 to 794.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/eousa/foia_reading_room/usam/title9/crm00650.htm

Am I wrong in this? My Google search just now must've flagged some serious flags at the NSA. I even felt a little creeped out typing them in.

[Cha]

1. If so.. then he can hide out in Russia and whine about the USA for 10 years

and then he's free to go anywhere he wants?


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Snowden condemning unwanted and illegal government interference in peoples lives from Russia
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[Angleae]

6. Not quite.

Even if the espionage charges are negated, he still can be charged with fleeing arrest which carries no statute of limitations.

[2banon]

2. did this link indicate the date the charge was made? n/t

[joshcryer]

4. No, no, link is to statute of limitations, he was charged June 14, 2013.

Date he was charged: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/21/19079389-us-charges-nsa-leaker-snowden-with-espionage

Snowden has been charged with three violations: theft of government property and two offenses under the espionage statutes, specifically giving national defense information to someone without a security clearance and revealing classified information about "communications intelligence."

Each of the charges carries a maximum of 10 years in prison.

[BainsBane]

3. I'm pretty sure they don't count time a person has been evading capture

Statute of Limitations refers to the time when the US Attorney can file charges. Since they have filed and he is out of the country evading prosecution, I believe that stops the clock on State of Limitations.

[joshcryer]

5. Damn you're right, I didn't understand it apparently. :(