20 Unsung Heroes Who Were Misunderstood as Villains

History is often shaped by those in power, and the narrative of who is a hero and who is a villain can change over time. In the case of Charles Littlejohn, a former IRS contractor who was convicted of stealing confidential tax return information, he may actually be seen as a hero by some. While stealing is a crime, in this instance it could be argued that Littlejohn's actions were victimless, unless the high-ranking government officials he targeted had something to hide.

Governments have a history of punishing those who expose sensitive information, as seen with individuals like Edward Snowden. The 20 real-life "villains" who were actually heroes challenge our perceptions of good and bad, and remind us that the labels we assign to people can be fluid and influenced by those in power.