Is Edward Snowden just a Russian spy?

No.

The claim doesn’t pass the most basic smell test.

If Snowden were a spy, why go to the press at all? Why not quietly pass info to Russian intelligence?

Snowden may have a touch of the self-important grandstander, not that I think that’s a bad thing in this case. As a spy? He’d be a horrible failure.

This is an attempt to defame Snowden, the Kremlin, and our largest ally with one brush.

(Our largest ally is China, in case you’re slow.)