Edward Snowden Makes His Case For Obama To Pardon Him
- 8 years ago
In a video interview with The Guardian, which was released on Tuesday, Edward Snowden made a case for his pardon.
Edward Snowden has been a wanted man in the U.S. since 2013, the year he leaked NSA documents showing the scope of its surveillance initiatives.
In a video interview with The Guardian, which was released on Tuesday, he made a case for his pardon.
Speaking from Moscow, Snowden said, “I think when people look at the calculations of benefit, it is clear that in the wake of 2013 the laws of our nation changed. The [US] Congress, the courts and the president all changed their policies as a result of these disclosures. At the same time there has never been any public evidence that any individual came to harm as a result.”
He also noted, “Yes, there are laws on the books that say one thing, but perhaps this is why the pardon power exists – for the exceptions, for the things that may seem unlawful in letters on a page but when we look at them morally, when we look at them ethically, when we look at the results, it seems obvious that these were necessary things, these were vital things.”
Snowden’s wish is that, before leaving office, President Obama excuses the charges against him.
According to White House spokesperson Josh Earnest, no such thing is going to happen.
Edward Snowden has been a wanted man in the U.S. since 2013, the year he leaked NSA documents showing the scope of its surveillance initiatives.
In a video interview with The Guardian, which was released on Tuesday, he made a case for his pardon.
Speaking from Moscow, Snowden said, “I think when people look at the calculations of benefit, it is clear that in the wake of 2013 the laws of our nation changed. The [US] Congress, the courts and the president all changed their policies as a result of these disclosures. At the same time there has never been any public evidence that any individual came to harm as a result.”
He also noted, “Yes, there are laws on the books that say one thing, but perhaps this is why the pardon power exists – for the exceptions, for the things that may seem unlawful in letters on a page but when we look at them morally, when we look at them ethically, when we look at the results, it seems obvious that these were necessary things, these were vital things.”
Snowden’s wish is that, before leaving office, President Obama excuses the charges against him.
According to White House spokesperson Josh Earnest, no such thing is going to happen.