alt Hacker NewsEasy advice to give as a bystander lacking context (2013!), hard to follow as a "martyr" living in that context. It wasn't even clear whether he'd be a martyr (he could have easily turned the politics around, wouldn't be the first time in the American history).
I was definitely around in 2013. And it was quite clear at the time there will be government persecution for the leaks, I mean that's why he ran in the first place.
If you stand on the path of martyrdom for your people you should be prepared to follow it to conclusion rather than fleeing to the sworn enemy.