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Probably because this was easier to prove and actually have a trial.

It's trivial to show that he didn't seek permission before publish, and violating an NDA is a civil issue. Because trials in absentia are typically not allowed for felonies, I don't think anything can happen with the criminal charges against him until he's physically present.

> We're not going after you for whistleblowing on systematically illegal activity by the NSA.

Yes, the US is doing that. Just not in this lawsuit. As I noted upthread, this lawsuit is only the civil lawsuit; there is a separate criminal lawsuit still in progress.

I'd imagine the book is constitutionally protected speech, whereas profiting from a crime isn't.