Whistleblower Daniel Hale Sentenced to 45 Months for Exposing U.S. Drone Program

Daniel Hale was sentenced to 45 months in prison for leaking classified information exposing the U.S. drone and targeted assassination program. Hale, a former member of the U.S. Air Force, pleaded guilty in March to one count of violating the World War I-era Espionage Act. Hale told the judge before his sentencing, “I am here because I stole something that was never mine to take — precious human life … please forgive me for taking papers instead of human lives.” Famed NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden tweeted, “[Hale’s] crime was telling this truth: 90% of those killed by US drones are bystanders, not the intended targets. He should have been given a medal.”