FBI director nominee calls whistleblowers 'critical element of functioning democracy'

As conflicting reports emerge about the political status of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden today, President Obama's new pick to lead the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), James Comey, just told a US Senate committee that he believes whistleblowers in the FBI are "a critical element of a functioning democracy" and that he would take steps to protect them if he's confirmed.