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It happened in the 70s to Daniel Ellsberg, the Pentagon Paper's leaker.

"Judge Byrne dismissed all charges against Ellsberg."

"He and Russo faced charges under the Espionage Act of 1917 and other charges including theft and conspiracy, carrying a total maximum sentence of 115 years."

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Ellsberg

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The charges against Ellsberg were dropped on what was basically a technicality, though.

If the public sentiment sways in such a direction, I'm sure a technicality will be found in this case as well.

The DOJ has spent the last 40 years plugging those holes.

The charges against Ellsberg were dropped when it became public that the government had spied on Ellsberg by wiretapping Ellsberg's psychiatric visits.

So maybe all Snowden has to do is to show the government spying on him. Which would be kind of meta, as it would put the government on trial for PRISM itself, while probably acquitting Snowden

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