Sanders Calls For Plea Deal For Edward Snowden

Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont has called for whistleblower Edward Snowden to be given clemency or a plea agreement for exposing mass government surveillance programs by the National Security Agency.

“The information disclosed by Edward Snowden has allowed Congress and the American people to understand the degree to which the NSA has abused its authority and violated our constitutional rights,” Sanders wrote in the Guardian. “Now we must learn from the troubling revelations Mr. Snowden brought to light. Our intelligence and law enforcement agencies must be given the tools they need to protect us, but that can be done in a way that does not sacrifice our rights.”

Sanders continued: “While Mr Snowden played an important role in educating the American people, there is no debate that he also violated an oath and committed a crime. In my view, the interests of justice would be best served if our government granted him some form of clemency or a plea agreement that would spare him a long prison sentence or permanent exile.”

Sanders’ statement was one of several from prominent politicians, activists, artists, and even former whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, who exposed the “Pentagon Papers,” a top-secret government study of the U.S.’s military and political involvement in Vietnam leading up to its decision to put troops on the ground in the southeast Asian country, according to History.com.

“Ed Snowden should be freed of the legal burden hanging over him,” Ellsburg wrote. “They should remove the indictment, pardon him if that’s the way to do it, so that he is no longer facing prison.”

Ellsburg pointed out that the U.S. government hasn’t proven that Snowden’s leaks has caused any harm.

“Inconvenience, yes, embarrassment certainly, but what has truly been revealed is that the NSA itself was unquestionably committing international, domestic and constitutional crimes,” Ellsburg wrote.

But others, including Democratic Sen. Mark Udall of Colorado and Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, who both pushed for reforms based on the knowledge of Snowden’s relevations, had different perspectives.

“I do not believe the president should pardon Snowden,” Udall said, adding that he believes Snowden should face trial.

“I’m not going to sit in judgment on pending criminal charges,” said Wyden. “Though I certainly don’t think there should be a double standard where defenders of particular programs can disclose classified information get and off scot-free, while critics of those programs go to prison.”

Snowden is being charged under the Espionage Act for leaking state secrets about mass surveillance to the media in 2013. The American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights Watch began a campaign on Sep. 14 to urge President Barack Obama to grant Snowden clemency. 

Sources: Guardian, ACLU, History.com/ Photo Credit: ACLU