Whistleblower Edward Snowden’s battle for asylum can begin in earnest today, with the revelation that the US government has charged him with three crimes, including two charges of “espionage” for leaking information to the media. The complaint was filed on June 14 (pdf), but was “under seal.”
Snowden was the source of multiple revelations about the NSA’s broad, abusive surveillance of ordinary Americans, and confirmed that shortly after the leaks broke, saying he wanted to inform the American public of what is going on.
Yet Snowden is in Hong Kong, and getting him from there could be an uphill battle. Defense lawyer Alan Dershowitz pointed out that the “espionage” charges, being explicitly political in nature, will make it much more difficult for Hong Kong to justify extraditing him to the United States, where if convicted he could face up to 30 years in prison – 10 years per charge.
Snowden expressed a preference to remain in Hong Kong, though the semi-autonomous city does have an extradition treaty with the United States, because of its history of support for freedom of speech. In some cases the Chinese government could overrule an extradition decision, but since Snowden uncovered broad surveillance abuse in Hong Kong itself, even local officials are likely to be very sympathetic and reluctant to turn him over.
Former CIA official Robert Baer, who immediately blamed China for the whole NSA revelation, said that Snowden’s remaining in Hong Kong confirms that assessment, at least as far as he is concerned.
Yet there is no actual proof of this assumption, and Snowden has pointed out that it would’ve made no sense to go to Hong Kong if this was the case, calling it a “predictable smear.”
A petition calling on President Obama to immediately and unconditionally pardon Edward Snowden is nearing its goal of 100,000 signatures. The petition would at the very least oblige President Obama to address the matter directly, whereas so far he has just made vague statements of welcoming the “conversation” about his surveillance of everyone, without taking a position on whether or not he is okay with us knowing about it in the first place. The charges against Snowden, of course, indicate that he is not.
The US govt should be charged with espionage! Doublespeak much?
Charged with “espionage” for leaking information to the media." There we have it; the media, and thus the public is the enemy.
The real issue for real 'people':
The core issue — IBM's 'Watson' AI system reviewing us.
The Key question is —- Can Snowden (or his thumb-drive if he happens to 'disappear') confirm that the NSA is using IBM's 'Watson' AI system for analytics — to review all of we Empire subjects' stolen data for evaluation of populist/progressive or libertarian threats to this disguised SGE (Secret Global Empire)??
Paranoia strikes deep in the heart of the Obama Administration.
This is Obama's continuous war on whistleblowers and the war on America, started by Bush in 2003. The leaders of the NSA and STRATCOM should be in prison for crimes against humanity. Obama should be impeached.
If you think about it, we know virtually nothing as to who Edward Snowden actually is, where he came from, or the important information (in my opinion) as to which ethnic group he originates. And have been told little or nothing of his early childhood and training or anything on his general background, including which grade school he attended etc. About the only thing we think we know about this man, is that although a high school drop-out, he still managed to land a $120,000/year job before gaining unprecedented access (which included reading and copying documents with no over-site) to the most sensitive US spy data in existence. I’ve been skeptical about this man from the get-go, and now that the dual citizen and known plagiarizer, Alan Dershowitz http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dershowitz%E2%80%93F… shows up as his defense attorney, my suspicions have now peaked and gone into over-drive.
SICK! Obama has confirmed himself and his place in history as to have been the absolute worst piece of malevolent shit to have inhabited the Oval Office! Indictment and impeachment proceedings should be followed immediately by trial, sentencing and prosecution: or perhaps, as he might rather prefer his very own Obama version of 'due process' of those presumed guilty reduced to just two brief words: 'Predator drone'. 'Out, out damned spot'!
According to a recent news item, a chartered plane stands ready to take Snowden to Iceland should that country offer him asylum. Let's all hope that happens.
IMO Snowden made a huge mistake in revealing himself so soon. He should have waited until he was safely in Iceland or some other friendly nation.
Yeah, telling the truth about the U.S. is a risky business. Ask Edward and Julian!
Evil men love the dark!
Wanted — Dead or alive
According to the newspapers in Hong Kong, Snowden is now flying to Moscow on route to another destination. Could be that Snowden needs both legal safety and physical safety.
Obama eats America's young.