His real crime, as often is the case, is not that he leaked secrets. Government employees do that all the time, with impunity. His crime is that he subverted hierarchy. He's a lowly person. A mere sysadmin. How dare he challenge the great people who run this country.

So despite the best efforts of the founders to keep the United States from becoming a monarchy, we're there. If he loses his freedom, this is no longer a country with a Constitution that means anything.

On the other hand, if he's vindicated, and if the perpetrators are punished, as they should be, we will re-affirm the vision of our founders. Which is important, if we're going to deal with the challenges that lie ahead.