Trump considering pardon for Snowden
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump announced that he was considering pardoning whistleblower Edward Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor who leaked highly classified information about government surveillance programs. This disclosure triggered a national debate about government eavesdropping. The revelations also caused a major domestic scandal.
Aside from exposing an illegal program, Snowden also helped reform American laws. His leaked documents revealed vast surveillance operations that targeted domestic civilians. The disclosure also made him a hero to many on the left and a traitor to many on the right. Some members of the Republican Party have publicly disputed Snowden’s status, while others are completely sold on the idea that he is a hero and a martyr.
Read More : Best Spelling and Grammar Checker App, Website and Chrome Extension India 2023
Trump Administration already Pardoned Many
The Trump administration has pardoned many allies and well-connected political figures. Trump’s most recent actions have often been the result of personal connections. Some of his pardons have been backed by celebrities, while others have been made with the assistance of his friends. In a recent interview with the Huffington Post, Congressman Thomas Massee (R-Kentucky) noted that Snowden has received a lot of attention from both sides of the political spectrum.
A number of organizations have supported Snowden’s pardon, and several members of Congress have spoken out in favor of his release. In an interview with The Intercept, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she’s been in contact with Snowden, who “respects” her and hopes to be pardoned. Some members of Congress have pointed out that Snowden should be pardoned because of his achievements, such as his disclosure of the magnitude of government surveillance.
What Civil Liberties say
Some civil liberties advocates are also calling for Snowden’s release. They claim that the revelations from Snowden have improved privacy rights in the United States. They say that Snowden has a “treasure trove” of secrets that could benefit from his return home. However, they also worry that lawmakers could undermine his appeal.
The Washington Post reported that Trump polled his aides about their thoughts on a Snowden pardon. Several of his aides, including Congresswoman Liz Cheney (Wyoming) and Rep. Matt Gaetz (Florida), were enthusiastic about the idea of pardoning Snowden, but others weren’t. The paper reported that only a small minority of aides were fully supportive of the idea of a pardon. However, lawmakers did approve of Trump’s comments.
Most Popular quote on Snowden’s Pardon
The most popular quote on Snowden’s pardon is, “The NSA is a great organization, but it’s not a good one.” Snowden has a number of negative feelings about the intelligence community, and he was even accused of stealing highly classified documents. In 2013, Snowden leaked classified information about the NSA’s surveillance programs. Some of the documents he released have been revised, and a number of the programs have been abolished. However, Snowden has also been accused of sharing highly classified information with journalists in Hong Kong and Russia.
Snowden also published a book, which was allegedly in violation of a non-disclosure agreement. However, the Department of Justice has filed a civil lawsuit against Snowden. Several politicians have voiced support for his pardon, including Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) and Rep. Justin Amash (R-Michigan). However, the New York Times’ editorial board has yet to endorse the idea of Snowden’s release.
Trump considering pardon for Assange
During the presidential campaign, President Trump mentioned pardoning Julian Assange and Edward Snowden, two of the biggest whistleblowers in recent history. The two are charged with violating the US Espionage Act and revealing highly classified information about US surveillance programs. They have also violated non-disclosure agreements with the CIA and the National Security Agency (NSA). However, no presidential pardons have been issued for the two.
President Trump said that he would consider pardoning Snowden and Assange, but that he would not do so at this time. While the two have been encouraged to get pardons by a number of political groups, a number of GOP lawmakers have expressed concern about pardoning them.
However, some members of the press freedom community are making the case for Snowden and Assange. These groups argue that the leaks revealed the extent of the NSA’s domestic spying. The release of these documents helped expose the criminality of the “deep state” and the NSA. They also helped the public learn about the atrocities that occurred in Iraq.
Snowden was given asylum in Russia since 2013
Snowden, who has lived in Russia since 2013, has been hailed as a courageous whistleblower. In 2013, he leaked highly classified information about NSA surveillance programs to journalists. The leak revealed that the NSA was spying on allied nations thousands of times a year. It also showed that the NSA was breaking privacy regulations thousands of times a year.
Assange, a WikiLeaks co-founder, is awaiting extradition to the US to face prosecution for revealing US military records. He faces up to 175 years in prison if convicted. However, he has vowed to commit suicide if he is extradited to the US. In the face of this threat, supporters of Assange have launched a public campaign for his pardon.
However, even if President Trump grants Assange a pardon, it is unlikely that he will do so within the next several years. The two men have been convicted of criminal charges and could face long prison sentences, which would limit their political activities. However, Trump’s refusal to pardon Assange should anger those who care about these issues.
President Trump has not made any Official decision
Although President Trump has not made an official decision on whether or not to pardon Snowden, there have been a number of rumors suggesting that he is planning to do so. A number of former NSA contractors, including Reality Leigh Winner and Joe Exotic, have also urged President Trump to pardon Snowden. This influx of pardon requests may come at a bad time for Trump. He is also facing an impeachment trial in the Senate for a deadly Capitol riot. In addition, he is likely to be sued after leaving office.
President Trump may also be able to exercise his pardon powers before he leaves office. A number of GOP lawmakers have expressed concern about granting clemency to Assange and Snowden, but a number of Democrats have been calling on him to do so. In addition, a number of high-profile supporters of the two men have called on President Trump to pardon Assange, including actress Pamela Anderson, rapper Lil Wayne, and congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.
