據(jù)《衛(wèi)報(bào)》報(bào)道,，2004-2013年擔(dān)任美國(guó)國(guó)防部高級(jí)調(diào)查員的約翰?克蘭在報(bào)告中指出，一位重要檢舉人曾向國(guó)防部監(jiān)察長(zhǎng)曝光政府十幾年前的不當(dāng)行為,，卻沒(méi)有得到妥善保護(hù),。報(bào)道發(fā)表后，斯諾登本可通過(guò)政府渠道來(lái)曝光國(guó)安局監(jiān)聽(tīng)項(xiàng)目的說(shuō)法不攻自破,。

克蘭稱,，國(guó)安局前高官托馬斯?德雷克披露國(guó)安局不當(dāng)行為及違法行為的時(shí)間比斯諾登早好幾年，但保護(hù)措施反而害他落入“陷阱”,。隨后,，德雷克只能跟國(guó)防部監(jiān)察長(zhǎng)合作。但據(jù)克蘭介紹,，國(guó)安局將德雷克的身份透露給了刑事檢察官,，還銷毀了本可為德雷克辯護(hù)的證據(jù)。高昂的訴訟費(fèi)用讓德雷克徹底破產(chǎn),，盡管更嚴(yán)厲指控于2011年撤銷,。

2013年，斯諾登將國(guó)安局?jǐn)?shù)據(jù)透露給了《衛(wèi)報(bào)》,。另外幾家媒體隨后也得到了相關(guān)文件,。此舉招致大量批評(píng)?？偨y(tǒng)巴拉克?奧巴馬表示,，泄密事件導(dǎo)致對(duì)美國(guó)懷有敵意的人現(xiàn)在也能接觸到敏感信息,。國(guó)安局監(jiān)察長(zhǎng)喬治?埃拉德2014年曾說(shuō)：“斯諾登原本可以找我舉報(bào)的?！?/p>

據(jù)政治資訊網(wǎng)站Politico報(bào)道,，埃拉德曾說(shuō)：“我們處理矛盾一向效果非常好?！?/p>

回應(yīng)克蘭的報(bào)告時(shí),，斯諾登呼吁為政府內(nèi)部檢舉人提供更有力的保護(hù)。

斯諾登對(duì)《衛(wèi)報(bào)》表示：“要為檢舉人提供鋼鐵一般有力又方便執(zhí)行的保護(hù)措施,，而且要公開(kāi)成功案例,。務(wù)必保護(hù)向國(guó)會(huì)監(jiān)督機(jī)構(gòu)檢舉揭發(fā)的人，如果他們的努力推動(dòng)了政策改善,，就應(yīng)該大方承認(rèn),。如今勇敢的人奮起反對(duì)有悖法律的政府部門(mén)，卻得不到任何鼓勵(lì),，必須改變這種現(xiàn)狀?！保ㄘ?cái)富中文網(wǎng)）

譯者：Charlie

審校：夏林

According to reports from John Crane, a senior Pentagon investigator from 2004 to 2013, a prominent whistleblower who went to the inspector general hoping to expose wrongdoing within the government more than a decade ago was inadequately protected, the Guardian reported. The report undermined arguments that Snowden could’ve gone through government channels to expose the NSA’s surveillance program.

Crane alleged that the protections set up for whistleblowers became a “trap” for Thomas Drake, a former senior NSA executive who disclosed wrongdoing and allegedly illegal activity in the office years before Snowden. Drake then began working with the Pentagon’s inspector general, but according to Crane, the office leaked Drake’s name to criminal prosecutors, and also destroyed evidence that would’ve acted as defense for Drake. Drake became financially ruined because of the legal fees, though the more serious accusations against him dropped in 2011.

Snowden leaked data from the NSA in 2013 to the Guardian, before several other media outlets also got hold of the documents. The move was heavily criticized, with President Barack Obama noting that sensitive information could now also be accessed by enemies to the U.S., while the NSA’s Inspector General, George Ellard, said “Snowden could have come to me,” in 2014.

“We have surprising success in resolving the complaints that are brought to us,” Ellard said, according to Politico.

In response to Crane’s account, Snowden called for stronger protections for whistleblowers within the government.

“We need iron-clad, enforceable protections for whistleblowers, and we need a public record of success stories,” Snowden told the Guardian. “Protect the people who go to members of Congress with oversight roles, and if their efforts lead to a positive change in policy – recognize them for their efforts. There are no incentives for people to stand up against an agency on the wrong side of the law today, and that’s got to change.”