Rep. Matt Gaetz recommends Donald Trump pardon fugitive NSA leaker Edward Snowden

The Washington Times ^ | Sep 3 | By Andrew Blake

[terart]

totally agree...you have so much leaking of classified by those in NSA, FBI, etc and NOTHING happens to them and this man saw something that was RULED ILLEGAL ...pardon him~

[trublu]

The fact is, he never initiated any of the protocols.

[RandFan]

The irony is it was Clapper and Obama who went after him so vehemently, not Trump or the GOP. In fact Trump seems minded to Pardon him.

[tennmountainman]

Get back to me when Hillary, Comey, Brennan go to jail too.

[tennmountainman]

Oh and Clapper too.
If it was public knowledge, why did Clapper lie under oath in Hearings?

[Alberta's Child]

Every time I see someone refer to Russia as an "enemy country," I am reminded of this idiocy I posted during the height of the Mueller investigation some time ago:

BREAKING NEWS: Three U.S. Military Personnel Under Investigation for Collaborating with the Russians

WARNING: It's satire. :-P

[Reily]

Excellent summary !

Contrast Snowden’s actions with Dr Terry Lakin. Lakin saw something his conscience said was wrong. He followed that conscience made his decision. Defended his decision in military court bravely took the consequences. (Note not in any way defending the courts decision. Also not saying anything about the rightness or wrongness of Lakin’s initial decision.) Snowden claimed his action were due to his conscience didn’t test it court. He took the PRC Express to Hong Kong, then the FSB Special to Moscow. He paid his freight.

Who is the most honorable ?

[2CAVTrooper]

Give a full pardon providing he gives up the goods on clapper and others.

[Stingray51]

BTW, people may forget that rather than pardoning a defendant, the President can direct the DOJ to drop the case. Except in the case of General Flynn, who had already pleaded guilty, the President surely has an absolute right to do so. Now the effect would not be the same but it might be a less politically controversial way to proceed.

[jz638]

If he is as guilty as they say he is ( and I do believe he is a glory seeking primadonna, not a noble whistleblower), there has to be at least one law he broke that he can have a fair trial and defend himself that the state can charge him with.

[Chickensoup]

So?

[RandFan]

He has said he will stand trial if he is allowed to defend himself properly so your idea might work however its up to the administration to change their stance..

[RandFan]

He has said he will stand trial if he is allowed to defend himself properly so your idea might work however its up to the administration to change their stance..

[nickcarraway]

Russia didn’t give a sh!t about the U.S. government and granted him entry and temporary asylum.

I completely disagree. Russia cared a lot. This was a hue victory for them - they got a top secret lap top, possibly other materials, and a former NSA worker. And they got Snowden to make whatever public statements they want. They cared.

[lepton]

I’m going to say that it is clear, as it was a few years ago, that what Snowden did was a mixed bag of benefits of getting things out there of things which should not have been happening, and malicious release of things which should most clearly have been secret. The damage would take decades to repair if it wasn’t for further ongoing damage that others are doing.

[nickcarraway]

He actually WAS trying to get to South America. The U.S. put tremendous financial pressure on those governments to deny his request for asylum.

I have a different perspective. By the the NSA, or other intelligence agency knew, it was much to late. Snowden knew his identity was going to be revealed soon. If he wasn't an idiot, he would have been in a country he could be safe in, before they were looking for him. He was an idiot to still be in Hong Kong. [I guess this doesn't apply if he was a knowing Russian asset, except he was foolish to put himself in that country, where he has no freedom]

[Simon Foxx]

I was conflicted when Snowden first did his thing. I recognized this was important public information, but could not countenance, as a former USAF officer with security clearances, his violation of his oath.

Well, a lot has changed since 2013.

We have seen how the "Deep State" - especially the "Intel Community" - has utter contempt for the American People, its institutions and system of government.

I have come full circle. I agree with Matt Goetz. Snowden should get a full pardon. And maybe The Presidential Medal of freedom too.

[RandFan]

Wow that is some journey you have been on.

Thank you for sharing it.

I suspect you’re not alone.

[zeugma]

Not only should Snowden be pardoned, he should be given absolute and complete immunity for prosecution for anything that he might reveal in his testimony. His pardon should be sweeping and historic. All the chips can fall where they may after that. A simultaneous blanket pardon should be mde for Assage. I want to know in detail about the involvement of Rich.