Two of the National Security Agency whistleblowers who appear in Seizing Power, William Binney and Kirk Wiebe, along with Thomas Drake and attorney Jesselyn Radack, did a video interview for USA Today, in which they dispel claims by Edward Snowden’s critics that he should have gone through official government channels to bring attention to NSA’s massive secret surveillance programs.

These high-ranking former NSA officials spent years inside the government trying to expose illegal and unconstitutional spying on American citizens, as well as insider deals to steer millions of dollars to intelligence contractors, only to be ignored by Congress, the courts and the Inspector General. They were instead targeted for harassment, threats and even prosecution by Obama’s Justice Department. Is it any surprise that Snowden chose to leave the country and go public, rather than follow in their footsteps?

-David Kasper