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Thomas A. Drake

Released
Date of birth:22. 04. 1957
Age:69
Gender:Male
Race:White
Era:2010s
State:Maryland
Support
Whistleblower Civil Liberties
Thomas A. Drake

Biography

Former senior NSA executive who reported waste, fraud, and constitutional violations in the Trailblazer surveillance program through internal channels and to congressional oversight committees, then to a Baltimore Sun reporter. Indicted in April 2010 on ten felony counts including five Espionage Act violations — faced 35 years. The case collapsed on the eve of trial in June 2011 after the prosecution's evidence was discredited; Drake pled to a single misdemeanor of unauthorized use of a computer and received one year of probation. His case became a defining example of Obama-era weaponization of the Espionage Act against whistleblowers.

Case

Charges: Originally 10 felonies including 5 Espionage Act violations; reduced to one misdemeanor (unauthorized use of a computer).
Arrested: Apr 14, 2010
Sentenced: Jul 15, 2011
Sentence: 1 year probation, 240 hours community service. Verdict as recorded: Pled to misdemeanor; felonies dropped.
Convicted: Yes