In a recent interview, Former Attorney General Eric Holder argued that Edward Snowden needed to face a trial and be held accountable for his actions, but also acknowledged that Snowden performed a public service. “We can certainly argue about the way in which Snowden did what he did, but I think that he actually performed a public service by raising the debate that we engaged in and by the changes that we made.”

+ And as you might imagine, Edward Snowden was listening.