Germany May Invite Snowden as Witness to NSA Spying

Interior Ministry Suggests He May Comment From Russia

A letter from Edward Snowden to a German MP is making the rounds, and adding to speculation that Germany may call on the whistleblower as a witness in their ongoing investigation of NSA surveillance against German companies and government leaders.

Snowden appears willing to comment if he can do so safely, and while there has been some speculation about the prospect of him going to Germany to testify, a pledge to keep him safe from US extradition might be difficult to grant.

Still, Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich said that Germany would “find a way” if Snowden is indeed willing to comment, saying it was also possible he’d remain in Russia, where he has asylum, and provide testimony from there.

With its history of abusive surveillance states, Germany has taken the NSA scandals particularly seriously, and recent revelations that the NSA spent over a decade tapping German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone has sparked major controversy.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.