Thinking that you know better than your superiors is not a defense, particulary when it comes to giving classified information to foreign governments.
If he had just given it to the NY Times, he would be called a whistleblower.
"Franklin was motivated primarily by a desire to help the United States, not harm it."
Yeah, that's it. He's helping his country by giving away its secrets to whomever he chooses.
If not the death penalty, then this guy's sentence should be at least 112 years.
How Ironic.
Today's and tomorrow's news, that Iran is a national security danger to the United States, was recognized by this patriotic American while the State Dept was sleeping.
He hoped that maybe Israel could convince the US of the danger so he leaked material, in a way that occurs everyday in Washington, hoping it would get to Israel and from Israel back to Washington where it will gain in importance.
Imagine the same scenario if the information was about Al Quida, and the man leaked to Canada hoping it would come back to the US to prevent 9/11.
He had the best of motivations and history will prove him a hero even if he broke the law.