The evidence: Cruz was asked about Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who exposed government surveillance tactics, at a 2013 event held by TheBlaze TV. Cruz declined to label Snowden a patriot or a traitor, according to The Blaze, saying he needed more facts about Snowdens motives and whether he was telling the truth.
Cruz said: If it is the case that the federal government is seizing millions of personal records about law-abiding citizens, and if it is the case that there are minimal restrictions on accessing or reviewing those records, then I think Mr. Snowden has done a considerable public service by bringing it to light.
But Cruz also suggested Snowden should be prosecuted if he broke the law: If Mr. Snowden has violated the laws of this country, there are consequences to violating laws and that is something he has publicly stated he understands and I think the law needs to be enforced.
In another 2013 interview, Cruz warned against a rush to judgment or jump to conclusions on the surveillance program without knowing more details about it. But he criticized the Obama administration for a pattern of willingness to use the machinery of government to implement political and partisan ends and to mislead the people about it.
In 2016, Cruz told the New York Times that he now believes Snowden is a traitor: ​It is now clear that Snowden is a traitor, and he should be tried for treason.
Our ruling: Rubios wrong. Cruz didnt call Snowden a great public servant. Instead, he said since the Snowden news first broke in 2013 that he needed more information to decide whether Snowden had done a public service or whether he should be prosecuted. He left himself room to decide on it later and now, hes decided against Snowden.
