Whistleblowing has always been part of the American political landscape, stretching as far back as 1772. Documents known as The Hutchison Letters exposed the titular Massachusetts governor urging for stricter infringements on colonists’ liberties. They were published in the Boston Gazette after Benjamin Franklin sent them to John Adams.

Notable leaks of confidential information include the Watergate Scandal in 1972, which resulted in President Richard Nixon’s resignation two years later for covering up the burglary and wiretapping of the Democratic National Committee headquarters; the Plame Affair in 2003, which was named after the leaked identity of a CIA agent; and contractor Edward Snowden’s 2013 release of National Security Agency documents detailing the surveillance of American citizens. Despite the legal consequences Snowden faced, which led to his exile, he claimed that he would “be satisfied if the federation of secret law, unequal pardon and irresistible executive powers that rule the world that [he] love[s] are revealed even for an instant” (Greenwald, Glenn, et al. “Edward Snowden: The Whistleblower Behind the NSA Surveillance Revelations.” The Guardian, 11 June 2013).

Cable news and the internet changed the face of whistleblowing, offering more widespread channels and access.