Reality Winner NSA leak: Social media divided on Reality Leigh Winner

A 25-year-old federal contractor in Augusta was charged Monday with sending classified material to a news outlet, sparking an influx of mixed social reactions.

Reality Leigh Winner, an Air Force veteran who was vocal about her anti-Trump, liberal political views on Twitter, is accused of leaking a top-secret government report about Russia’s involvement in the 2016 presidential election.

As news of Winner’s arrest and charges unfolded, many took to Twitter to condemn her actions.

Does she have any idea what #topsecret & #treason mean? - Accused NSA leaker Reality Leigh Winner https://t.co/zunBVK7NSM via @usatoday
— Matthew Gardiner (@jmatthewg1234) June 6, 2017

Some are calling Winner a hero, a patriot. But #TheResistance stands for the rule of law; this is central to our legitimacy. 1/ pic.twitter.com/c5uZ6tApYU
— Jyn Erso 2017 🇺🇸 (@JynErso_2017) June 6, 2017

I wonder how long it will be until Liberals start calling Reality Winner a hero. She is a traitor to this country and must treated as such.
— Joshua Murphy (@iJoshuaMurphy) June 6, 2017

I hope most people realize that Bill Maher and Reality Winner do not represent, or speak for, the majority of Democrats in America.
— Daniel Harder (@NewsOfMideast) June 6, 2017

And at the same time, several Twitter users, including WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange, lauded Winner for her courage.

Alleged NSA whistleblower Reality Leigh Winner must be supported. She is a young women accused of courage in trying to help us know. pic.twitter.com/B4aIdt7qz6
— Julian Assange (@JulianAssange) June 6, 2017

Salute to Reality Winner for courage n taking huge risk just to strengthen American democratic values https://t.co/9FYBWxzeyt
— Amin Hussain (@iaminpk10) June 6, 2017

A 25 year-old woman has more courage and patriotism than every old white guy in the Republican Party combined. #RealityWinner
— Charles Clymer (@cmclymer) June 5, 2017

I stand w/ this courageous young woman, Reality Winner, who leaked NSA docs.

She's a brilliant Air Force veteran disturbed by what she saw. pic.twitter.com/1U7MqsOPxS
— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) June 6, 2017

But some just can’t get past her name.

I know it's immature, but I'm still stuck on the fact that someone named their kid Reality Winner.
— Scott Melker (@scottmelker) June 6, 2017

incredible the leaker is actually named Reality Winner. 2017 is an elaborate simulation running at 5 percent capacity
— Tom McKay (@thetomzone) June 6, 2017

The NSA contractor arrested for leaking a doc on Russian hacking of U.S. voting companies? Her name is "Reality Winner." Let that sink in.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) June 6, 2017

Reality Winner's name is a true sign of the times.
— Elena Sheppard (@eleshepp) June 6, 2017

Complete details of Winner’s arrest, FBI documents and more.

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Accused NSA leaker Reality Winner receives both praise and backlash on social media