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tangent4ronpaul
07-17-2013, 07:44 AM
Fugitive leaker Edward Snowden scribbled a handwritten note to request asylum in Russia, according to one of the country's news outlets. A lawyer advising Snowden said he has agreed to Russian President Vladimir Putin's demand that he stop 'anti-American activities.'

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/snowden-requests-russian-asylum-handwritten-note-article-1.1400578

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Edward Snowden's request for asylum in Russia was informal, to say the least.

The 30-year-old leaker scribbled a handwritten note on a piece of paper, Russian news outlet RT revealed on Tuesday.

“I hereby request your considering the possibility of granting to me temporary asylum in the Russian Federation,” the note dated June(typo!) 15 read.

A Russian lawyer advising Snowden, who remains holed up in Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, told Bloomberg News that the former National Security Agency contractor has agreed to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s demand he stop “anti-American activities.”

That order, however, seems open to interpretation, given that Snowden argues he is not harming the U.S. by bringing to light the NSA’s vast surveillance operation.

Snowden insists the gathering of Americans’ phone data, as well as the government’s access to the servers of nine major Internet companies, amounts to a violation of the Fourth Amendment against unreasonable search and seizures.

And Snowden has a new influential supporter: former Republican senator Gordon Humphrey.

The Guardian newspaper reported Tuesday that Humphrey, of New Hampshire, emailed Snowden thanking him for his leaks.

“I believe you have done the right thing in exposing what I regard as (sic) massive violation of the United States Constitution,” Humphrey wrote.

“I wish you well in your efforts to secure asylum and encourage you to persevere.”

And Snowden responded, thanking Humphrey.

“Perhaps, in such times, loving one’s country means being hated by its government,” Snowden said.

He also sought to allay concerns that the top-secret NSA documents he swiped from Booz Allen Hamilton could fall into the hands of other governments.

“Though reporters and officials may never believe it, I have not provided any information that would harm our people — agent or not — and I have no intention to do so,” Snowden wrote.

-t