NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden is being tried in the court of public opinion. Defenders of unconstitutional and intrusive mass surveillance of American citizens by the National Security State have deemed him a traitor, while opponents of such malignant and reprehensible police state practices have proclaimed him a hero. The crucial issues surrounding Snowden call to mind one of the most profound legal cases ever tried, that of The United States v. Aaron Burr. Burr was one of the most intriguing and mysterious persons in the early years of the Republic. Vilified and portrayed as a traitor, there are other dimensions to his character not always presented or portrayed in accounts by court historians. Here are three such efforts: #1, #2, and #3. Personally I have taken great pride in the fact that the first four letters of my last name spell B-U-R-R, coupled with my long-standing prejudice against carrying ten dollar bills in my wallet.
2:56 pm on June 28, 2013
