Three reasons Obama should pardon Snowden

[Brian4Liberty]

Traitor, hero, whistle-blower, snitch. Everyone has their own opinion of the actions of Edward Snowden. The establishment media certainly has done their best to portray him in the worse light possible. Let's just say for a moment that we value an honest, pragmatic and beneficial resolution. If that is the case, then the best option is for President Obama to issue a full pardon and immunity to Snowden. This will result in three major benefits:

1. Snowden can return to the US, and the US will no longer have to worry about Snowden becoming entangled with foreign powers. Making him a fugitive drives him into the arms of foreign powers, which is exactly the opposite of the interests of the United States.

2. With a pardon and immunity, Snowden can help US intelligence agencies from this point forward, at a minimum to debrief them, and to answer the many questions they no doubt have for him.

3. With a pardon and immunity, Snowden can talk to all of the "official" internal whistle-blower organizations that have been touted by many politicians and pundits. He can testify to Congress and related sub-committees. He can have a beer with President Obama and give him all of the details.

Of course this is hypothetical, and would depend upon President Obama desiring the best possible solution given the current situation, with the best outcome for national security and for transparency at the same time.

[Philhelm]

A pardon would really be the intelligent thing to do, and would in some ways undermine Snowden's assertions about the government. Then, Obama could claim that we live in a free country and that Snowden was foolish to fear his own government, and crap like that.

[Anti Federalist]

http://cdn.instanttrap.com/trap.jpg

[RickyJ]

You can't pardon someone who has not been convicted of anything.

[green73]

You can't pardon someone who has not done anything wrong.

fixed

[RickyJ]

Thanks for that fix, I forgot the "who." He has been charged, but not convicted. A president can't pardon a charge.

[AlexAmore]

You make a lot of valid points, especially if Obama and friends had nothing to hide.

Since they do have a lot to hide, this would give many other potential whistle blowers encouragement to come out.

[RonPaulMall]

Thanks for that fix, I forgot the "who." He has been charged, but not convicted. A president can't pardon a charge.

A President pardons crimes or offenses. You don't need to be convicted or even charged to get a pardon. See the text of Ford's pardon of Nixon (who had never been charged with a crime) for an example:

Now, THEREFORE, I, GERALD R. FORD, President of the United States, pursuant to the pardon power conferred upon me by Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, have granted and by these presents do grant a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 20, 1969 through August 9, 1974.

[VoluntaryAmerican]

Never going to happen.

[YesI'mALiberal]

You can't pardon someone who has not been convicted of anything.

Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon would beg to differ.



[edit] Sorry, RonPaulMall. I see you have it covered. I didn't see your message, yet (I wonder how long this tab has been open. :cool:)

[fr33]

Thanks to admins for installing a tweet button. It's topics like this that I use it.

[Brian4Liberty]

http://cdn.instanttrap.com/trap.jpg

Yeah, they might have to put him in a witness protection program. The mafia don't like snitches.

[Brian4Liberty]

Well Obama, what's it going to be?


WASHINGTON -- A petition asking President Barack Obama to pardon admitted state secret leaker Edward Snowden has passed 100,000 signatures.

The petition posted on Whitehouse.gov calls the former National Security Agency contractor a "national hero." It says he should immediately be pardoned for any crimes in "blowing the whistle" on classified government programs to collect phone records and online data.

White House policy is to respond to any petition that gets 100,000 signatures within 30 days. The Snowden petition crossed the threshold in two weeks.

The White House wouldn't say when its response will come. But it routinely declines to comment on petitions regarding law enforcement matters, including pardon requests. And the ultimate answer is the administration's pursuit of Snowden on espionage charges.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/24/edward-snowden-pardon-petition_n_3490542.html

[DamianTV]

Wont happen. Even a Pardon would be an admission of guilt strong enough that it would require that the Govt stop all of its Domesitc Surveillance and dismantle its Spy Core.

[Brian4Liberty]

"1. Snowden can return to the US, and the US will no longer have to worry about Snowden becoming entangled with foreign powers. Making him a fugitive drives him into the arms of foreign powers, which is exactly the opposite of the interests of the United States."

Or would they really prefer him to stay in Russia?


Report: Snowden asks to stay in Russia
...
Interfax news agency quoted consular desk official Kim Shevchenko as saying that British citizen Sarah Harrison - an aide to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange - asked the Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday to grant Snowden political asylum.

However, Interfax also cited the head of Russia's Migration Service Konstantin Romodanovsky as saying his agency had not received such a request.

The reported request comes after Ecuador hedged on whether it would grant Snowden protection as it has Assange, who is hiding out in Ecuador's embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden on rape charges. Ecuador said it had no authority to move him.

Snowden still appears to be holed up in an area of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport where he has been since arriving from Hong Kong to escape the U.S. extradition request. Putin insisted Russia on Monday that is not going to extradite Snowden to the USA, refusing a demand from President Obama.

"Russia has never extradited anyone and is not going to do so," Putin said, adding that Snowden, "should choose his final destination and go there.

Putin hinted that Snowden could remain in Russia.
...
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/07/01/germany-eu-nsa-snowden/2478625/

[Brian4Liberty]

"1. Snowden can return to the US, and the US will no longer have to worry about Snowden becoming entangled with foreign powers. Making him a fugitive drives him into the arms of foreign powers, which is exactly the opposite of the interests of the United States."

Or would they really prefer him to stay in Russia?

It looks like we have the answer to that. Yes, Obama and friends want him to stay in Russia:

Breaking: Snowden plans to settle and work in Russia (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?422100-Breaking-Snowden-plans-to-settle-and-work-in-Russia)

[DamianTV]

You make a lot of valid points, especially if Obama and friends had nothing to hide.

Since they do have a lot to hide, this would give many other potential whistle blowers encouragement to come out.

So THEY have something to hide about SPYING on everyone else? Oh the irony...

[enhanced_deficit]

Plant doesn't have the power to pardon his own war criomes let alone a whistle blower.

[Brian4Liberty]

Video at link:
http://thehill.com/video/in-the-news/198336-former-rep-ron-paul-calls-for-snowden-clemency


February 13, 2014, 10:27 am
Former Rep. Ron Paul launches petition for Snowden clemency

Former Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) has started a petition demanding clemency for the former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor who revealed its metadata surveillance program.

“Edward Snowden sacrificed his livelihood, citizenship, and freedom by exposing the disturbing scope of the NSA’s worldwide spying program. Thanks to one man’s courageous actions, Americans know about the truly egregious ways their government is spying on them,” Paul says in a video on his Ron Paul Channel website, which he started last summer.

The petition asks supporters to sign the petition to bring Snowden back to the United States before his status of temporary asylum in Russia expires in late July.

“By signing this petition, you are telling the U.S. government that Mr. Snowden deserves the right to come home without the fear of persecution or imprisonment,” the webpage says.
...
Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/198325-ron-paul-launches-clemency-for-snowden-petititon

[Brian4Liberty]

Bump!