White House refuses to pardon Snowden, wants him to 'come home, be judged'

US administration has branded Snowden a hacker and a traitor who endangered lives by revealing NSA spying program.


Afp July 28, 2015
The US administration re-iterated its tough stance against the exiled fugitive, whom supporters regard as a whistleblower. PHOTO: REUTERS

WASHINGTON: The White House on Tuesday rejected a call to pardon Edward Snowden, saying the former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor should "be judged by a jury of his peers" for leaking US government secrets.

The US administration re-iterated its tough stance against the exiled fugitive, whom supporters regard as a whistleblower, in response to a petition on the White House website signed by more than 167,000 people.

Lisa Monaco, an advisor on homeland security and counterterrorism, said Snowden's "dangerous decision to steal and disclose classified information had severe consequences for the security of our country and the people who work day in and day out to protect it."

She said that Snowden, who has been granted asylum in Russia after he leaked documents on vast US surveillance programmes to journalists, is "running away from the consequences of his actions."

"If he felt his actions were consistent with civil disobedience, then he should do what those who have taken issue with their own government do: challenge it, speak out, engage in a constructive act of protest, and -- importantly -- accept the consequences of his actions," she wrote.

"He should come home to the United States, and be judged by a jury of his peers -- not hide behind the cover of an authoritarian regime."

The US administration has branded Snowden a hacker and a traitor who endangered lives by revealing the extent of the National Security Agency's (NSA) spying programme.

But his revelation that the NSA siphons vast quantities of telephone data from private US citizens struck a cord and Congress has begun to amend once secret laws.

Snowden has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for the second year in a row and has received a string of international awards for free speech and civil liberties.

The petition took up this call.

"Edward Snowden is a national hero and should be immediately issued a a full, free, and absolute pardon for any crimes he has committed or may have committed related to blowing the whistle on secret NSA surveillance programs," it said.

Earlier this year, Congress passed a law which requires the NSA to end bulk data collection. The administration said Monday the NSA will stop accessing the records November 29 and would destroy the records as soon as possible.

COMMENTS (1)

Tom Barrett | 8 years ago | Reply Obama knows very well that the Espionage Act, under which Snowden is charged, is a draconian piece of legislation that does not permit a defense based on the fact he was a whistleblower acting in the best interests of the American public. Like Chelsea Manning, he would be denied the opportunity to put that evidence and argument before a jury.That is a fair trial? If they would charge him under other legislation that would allow that appeal to a jury he might come back. Unfortunately Obama has become a fan boy of the NSA, CIA and FBI.
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