Imagine I am an ordinary citizen. When I take a government job, I swear to serve my country and uphold the law. When I leave that job a couple of years ago, I take my personal possessions with me, packed in cardboard boxes.

Imagine the Records Office discovers hundreds of documents are missing from my former place of work and that I am accused of taking secret documents with me when I left.

Imagine I insist this is absolutely untrue, but then I find—much to my surprise!—that I have, in fact, packed some secret documents with my own materials that should never have left my office, taking them out of state to my own property, and sticking them in a storeroom. Accidentally, of course, could have happened to anyone. When I am asked, I agree to surrender documents to the government. I do this. Then I carefully review all other documents in my possession, looking for anything else, find nothing more, and swear I have nothing I should not have.

Imagine documents are still missing, however. And despite my assurances, the FBI is granted the right to search my properties. This is all filmed and witnessed. Additional documents are found. And then more documents are found. Many documents. Included among the materials found in my possession are secrets about national safety, about weaknesses in US military and other governments’ security systems, about nuclear weapons, and about people serving our country in dangerous situations. Should this information reach the attention of hostile powers, not only would knowledge of this material put our country in danger, but specifically put men and women charged with protecting our country in danger.

Imagine I claim absolute innocence. I rant and rage about the unfairness of these accusations. Perhaps I kick and scream and raise millions of dollars doing that.

Imagine that my own co-workers and employees provide sworn testimony and evidence including texts and photographs showing that I personally supervised the moving of the materials from place to place to avoid discovery, that I bragged to people without security clearance that they should not know the secrets I tell them, that I kept documents for months in unsecured locations, and that I lied about all of this. I continue to lie.

Imagine a recording where I not only acknowledge that documents I have in my possession must be kept secret, but also that I am aware I am failing to do that.

Imagine a Grand Jury reviews the evidence and finds there is compelling evidence that I have acted illegally and that I should be charged with federal crimes.

Can you imagine this ordinary citizen is not in prison by now?