This isn't about a defense. The problem is that those "select few" are supposed to be subject to the same laws as the rest of us.

When we see clear evidence that "rule of law" no longer applies, why should anybody respect the law?

True. Petraeus and Clapper pretty much sealed that deal. I mean, we already knew those with money and power were treated differently, it just happened in the dark, usually.

The financial collapse, Clapper lying to Congress, and the Petraeus scandal (and subsequent zero punishment for any of the three) made it clear public knowledge and brought it out of the shadows into the light of day.

Petraeus received a $100k fine. Not a huge deal for someone who made a lot more on his biography, which was the cause of the issue, but still not zero punishment.

What about Petraeus. For Snowden's acts to be still considered criminal is just hypocritical.

He should be in jail for the rest of his life (look at Chelsea Manning's sentence, if we are going to be consistent), but he was given a slap on the wrist: CIA directory trading secrets to his mistress? It sounds like a movie script, but now it's the public record.

What makes the difference even more stunning is that Snowden and Manning released information because they thought it was the right thing to do. Patreus did it knowing it was the wrong thing.