Eric Holder Promises Russia US Won't Seek Death Penalty for Edward Snowden

Snowden applied for asylum in Russia, stating a fear of being tortured and facing the death penalty

Attorney General Eric Holder has told the Russian government that the U.S. will not seek the death penalty for former National Security Agency systems analyst Edward Snowden.

In a letter dated July 23, the attorney general said the criminal charges Snowden faces do not carry the death penalty and that the U.S. will not seek the death penalty even if Snowden were charged with additional death penalty-eligible crimes.