White House Says There Will Be No Amnesty For Snowden

Despite NSA official saying that the possibility of asylum for the whistleblower should be considered

Credit: Reason

It was recently reported that officials at the NSA were considering offering whistleblower Edward Snowden amnesty in exchange for him not leaking more of the documents he took from the intelligence agency.

Today, the Obama administration made clear that amnesty for Snowden, which would have to approved by the DOJ, was not being considered.

From USA Today:

The White House echoed a long-held position Monday: No amnesty for Edward Snowden.

"Mr. Snowden is accused of leaking classified information and faces felony charges here in the United States," said Caitlin Hayden, spokesperson for the National Security Council. "He should be returned to the U.S. as soon as possible, where he will be accorded full due process and protections."

Snowden remains in Russia under political asylum.

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Comments

[Drake]

Good - keep the leaks coming.

[kinnath]

I am so looking forward to the 2014 election season. I hope Snowden has plenty of juicy tidbits to liven up the election.

[PM]

Obama's not running, and there's no reason to think "Bush did it!" is gonna be stale by then.

[Jingo]

He said 2014. That's midterms, and Obama is still President before and after them.

Presidential elections are not until 2016. By the way, Hillary will win that one regardless of all the scandals.

The only outcome I'm not sure of is if Texas will secede when faced with the prospect of 8 years of Hillary right after 8 years of Obama...

[Episiarch]

Finally, the arrogance and vindictiveness of this venal administration is working for us for once. They could potentially shut Snowden up, but they'd rather try and punish him instead, because that's the way they operate. Also, it's entirely possible that when offered amnesty in exchange for no more releases, Snowden told them to go take a long walk off a short pier.

[Knarf Yenrab (prev. An0nB0t)]

Also, it's entirely possible that when offered amnesty in exchange for no more releases, Snowden told them to go take a long walk off a short pier.

I'd bet on this. There's zero chance that the miscreant Rahm Emanuel-types in the Obama administration didn't try to cut a deal with Snowden to limit their exposure. Snowden's just too much a dead-ender--and has invested and lost too much already--to give in.

[Hugh Akston]

"He should be returned to the U.S. as soon as possible, where he will be accorded full due process and protections."

Translation: we've got the waterboarding table and isolation cell waiting for you.

[Episiarch]

Well, one advantage that Snowden has is his fame. If he publicly turned himself over to the US government, they'd have to be suicidally arrogant to try and just shove him in a dank cell and not let anyone talk to him. Yeah, they do it to nobodies all the time; they even did it to Manning. But the uproar if they did it to Snowden would be pretty huge.

That's not saying they wouldn't try; they're pretty amazingly stupid. But it would be a losing move for them.

[kinnath]

Sounds exactly like the Obama administration then.

[Episiarch]

Which is why there is no way Snowden will give himself up to them, I would surmise. Which I completely understand.

[Warty]

At least they're not stupid enough to start a war with Russia over this. Maybe. I hope.

[Episiarch]

The missiles are flying. Hallelujah, Hallelujah!

[AKrumbach]

(Sung to the tune of "Christmas is Coming")

The missiles are flying, the leaks are getting bad. /
Would the drones put a bullet into Snowden's back? /
If a bullet is too tricky, a poison'd dagger will do. /
If you haven't got a dagger, just chant "Go Team Blue!"

[kinnath]

The good news is, Obama doesn't give a shit about foreign affairs. The bad news is, the rest of the world knows this.

[Raven Nation]

Maybe something like this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W....._and_death

[thom]

No way they'd allow a public trial. A "public trial" maybe, but never an actual public trial.

[Cdr Lytton]

Well National Security, classified evidence... GUILTY!

[alan_s]

"they'd have to be suicidally arrogant."

Yeah, well...

[The Late P Brooks]

It was recently reported that officials at the NSA were considering offering whistleblower Edward Snowden amnesty in exchange for him not leaking more of the documents he took from the intelligence agency.

Millions for defense, not one cent for tribute.

"He's just one guy. How hard can it to make him disappear?"

[kinnath]

There is a bare-chested Putin standing in the way.

[seguin]

Riding a white tiger.

[kinnath]

Putin on a tiger vs. Obama on a unicorn.

pay per view

[mr simple]

Like He-Man and She-Ra?

[kinnath]

+1

[The Late P Brooks]

be

"How hard can it be?"

[Almanian!]

THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID

[Bill Dalasio]

He should be returned to the U.S. as soon as possible, where he will be accorded full due process and protections.

The only way I would even consider supporting this outcome would be if James Clapper were to be his cellmate while awaiting trial.

[Brett L]

Right after we get all of the government officials ahead of him settled, we can get to him.

[Bill Dalasio]

Snowden or Clapper?

[Brett L]

Good point. Snowden was "him". Start at the top, then work our way down.

[Bill Dalasio]

Yeah, it's come to a sad state of affairs when prosecuting an admitted perjurer sitting as DNI might be down on the list.

[Warty]

"He should be returned to the U.S. as soon as possible, where he will be accorded full due process and protections."

We live in a time where this statement sounds utterly terrifying. Think about that.

[Nikki just says no]

And utterly banal. Think about that.

[Warty]

You sound utterly jejune. Think about that.

[Episiarch]

Your improper use of jejune is gauche beyond belief. Go learn some vocabulary, cretin.

[Warty]

Your accusation is utterly inane. Is English your first language, greaseball?

[Episiarch]

Si, maricon!

[Hugh Akston]

Both of you are revealing your vapidness and insecurity through your grandiloquence. Think about that.

[Almanian!]

Your insipid prating is tiresome. Think about THAT.

[Pulseguy]

Good point. Really good point.

[The Late P Brooks]

Caitlin Hayden?

Any relation to Michael Hayden?

Jesus, what a rancid festering shithole Washington is.

[Dave Krueger]

No to your question, but yes to your statement.

[Warty]

Speaking of Obama's vindictiveness, here you go.

By now, the news has spread online of the IRS audit notices sent to two Obamacare whistleblowers. On November 25th, cancer victim Bill Elliott and C. Steven Tucker were informed of the ordeal each was to face. Elliott has been waging a pitched battle with cancer. Tucker is the insurance agent and healthcare freedom activist who informed him that the canceling of his insurance, wrought by the Obama administration for the sake pushing citizens into Obamacare, was illegal. Tucker reached out immediately after Elliott appeared on Fox News' The Kelly File, Nov. 7th, and Elliott's insurance was hastily reinstated.

[BakedPenguin]

It's amazing how small of a man he is. Just petty.

[Ken Shultz]

"By now, the news has spread online of the IRS audit notices sent to two Obamacare whistleblowers."

Putin operates like this, too.

He assassinates people with radiation because he wants everyone to know who it was that came after his enemies--and he wants them to know that he can do this sort of thing in public with impunity.

It's really a sick thought, but we're kind of doing the Obama Administration's dirty work by publicizing this sort of thing.

The Obama Administration wants everyone to know that they will use the IRS to target their critics.

The Obama Administration also wants its critics to see that even when the administration's vindictive actions are well publicized, no one can do anything to stop them.

[Warty]

That's an interesting thought. I wouldn't be surprised if it's true.

[Episiarch]

It's pretty much standard operating procedure for any thuggish organization. For inspiration, look at the mob and see how much difference you can see between our government (and this administration in particular) and the mafia.

[Hugh Akston]

No oily goombas in tacky silk suits, for one thing.

[Bill Dalasio]

"No oily goombas in tacky silk suits, for one thing."

No, it's the government. Only tacky polyester suits need apply.

[Warty]

Nice tax return you got here. Be a real shame if somebody were to audit it.

[Emmerson Biggins]

a non-zero subset of the mafia's transactions are voluntary and moral?

[Ken Shultz]

In a better world, Barack Obama would in Russia under political asylum.

[DesigNate]

It would be awesome if Snowden released something that directly implicated Obama. Kind of a "fuck you I don't need to come home" move.

[Dave Krueger]

The official position on NSA spying will continue to be, 2+2=5, 2+2=5, 2+2=5...

They know that most people will accept that if it's repeated often enough. And if you don't accept it? Well, the NSA knows who you are.

[Rasilio]

There are 4 lights

[Swiss Servator, Alps avast!]

+1 hood filled with rats

[Rasilio]

Well, not before Jan 20th 2017.

There is a decidedly non 0 chance that someone who opposes the Statist Quo wins the next Presidential Election. Hell I could even see one or more candidates using a promise to pardon Snowden and have a full hearing into the NSA spying as a plank in their platform.

[Episiarch]

I would love to see that. And then I would love to see the orgy of insane, slavering outrage that would erupt from so many quarters. Oh man, that would be wonderful.

[Almanian!]

In Russia, amnesty offers YOU!

[The Late P Brooks]

No to your question, but yes to your statement.

Thanks. Michael Hayden's wiki biography shows an unnamed daughter.

It's just one more scrap of evidence as to what an incestuous den of liars and thieves our government has become that that was my immediate assumption.

[GroundTruth]

" NSA were considering offering whistleblower Edward Snowden amnesty in exchange for him not leaking more of the documents he took from the intelligence agency"

Shouldn't that be: "The White House was considering offering Snowden a medal of honor in exchange for providing a complete and detailed index of all documents to at least three independently owned media outlets, and full access to his files to each of member of Congress"

[Bo Cara Esq.]

If Snowden could renounce his citizenship and adopt another nation's same, and entre the country illegally maybe he could get the general amnesty Obama is offering in that area.

[fish]

Hell I could even see one or more candidates using a promise to pardon Snowden and have a full hearing into the NSA spying as a plank in their platform.

The likelihood of this is less than that of sockpuppet declaring himself an ardent and unrepentant, capital "L" libertarian! No pol is willing to give up on the potential access to a domestic surveillance apparatus that may be of benefit at some point during their tenure!

[Rasilio]

I can think of Several who would, some of which are likely to be running or have at least floated trial balloons about running.

Off the top of my head there is

Rand Paul
Dennis Kucinich
Bernie Sanders

[Pulseguy]

Making something like that a plank in a platform doesn't mean they are actually going to do it! Come on, where have you been all these years?

[Dave Krueger]

The NSA is Coming to Town.

[The Late P Brooks]

Press Release from the White House:

Based on sworn testimony by [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] and [redacted], that Edward Snowden did [redacted] on [redacted] occasions and committed the crime of [redacted] on [redacted], a panel of federal judges chaired by [redacted] found him guilty of the crime of Treason against the United states of America. He was sentenced to [redacted] and ordered immediately transferred to a federal maximum security at [redacted], where his [redacted] will be carried out.

God Bless and Keep Barack Obama.

[Almanian!]

[redacted]!

[creech]

We were told on 60 Minutes last night that Snowden's treason had a catastrophic impact on U.S. security, but that Snowden had, fortunately, not released some tens of thousands more in very sensitive documents. Yet, when asked, the NSA flunky said to offer him amnesty in return for not releasing such documents, it would be like letting off a killer of 10 hostages to save 40 more. So what he released so far is devastating, but we don't really give a crap if he releases far more devastating stuff because we can't negotiate with
someone who is falsely compared to a murdering hostage-taker?

[Sevo]

"Snowden remains in Russia under political asylum."
It says a lot about the depths to which the US gov't has sunk that I read those words with a bit of relief that he is safe.

[Fluffy]

Whoever floated the trial balloon about this should be embarrassed.

Snowden was smart enough to pull this off and get away.

What makes them think he'd be stupid enough to take their "amnesty"?

Seriously, I could have Obama's signature on a fall pardon and it would mean nothing to me in his position. Absolutely nothing.

If these guys weren't complete fucking morons, they would ISSUE a full pardon for him, and then tell Russia that obviates his need for asylum. And then grab him as soon as he moves and say "We had double secret charges not included in the pardon. Oopsie!"

[Lady Bertrum]

I half hope Snowden returns to the US and is charged. It would be a circus of media attention and I, who never publicly protests, would drive to D.C. or wherever and start throwing Molotov cocktails. Almost nothing enrages me like the NASA spying scandal. But, then concern for the guy gets in the way. I don't want to actually see him in prison. He could be Mandela like without the communism - a martyr for libertarianism, but I shouldn't wish that on anyone.

[Lady Bertrum]

NSA - not NASA. uggg.

[Andrew S.]

How do you think the spy satellites get up there? They're in on it too, you know!

[Death Rock and Skull]

NASA even has its own armed goons.

[Otis B. Driftwood]

A brief discussion with one of NPR's resident comment board fuckwits this morning:

First guy: Yes, You cant spy on every citizen. Ignoring the constitution in such a regard should be considered treason, which is a felony.

Fuckwit: What part of the constitution has been ignored? IF information was taken illegally, it would not be a treasonous act. Treason is an action against the government.

Me: Katz v. United States. Google! How does it work?!

Fuckwit: Katz ruled that a warrant was needed when there was a reasonable expectation of privacy. Is it reasonable to believe that Google (since you were so kind in your use of it) and other internet providers had access to this information? If so then why should the government not be allowed to do the same?

I don't know why I continue to engage these goddamned lice...masochism, I suppose.

[Knarf Yenrab (prev. An0nB0t)]

Is it reasonable to believe that Google (since you were so kind in your use of it) and other internet providers had access to this information? If so then why should the government not be allowed to do the same?

"Is it reasonable to believe that your husband had access to your vagina by voluntary consent? If so, then why should the government not also have access to your vagina by involuntary consent?"

This is not just a failure of education, reason, and language, but of genes. People who learn how to spell and make their way through elementary school without massacring their classmates should not be committing fallacies like this.

[Otis B. Driftwood]

Me: Because Google gives you the choice and will not use this information for what I would consider nefarious causes.

I thought you were pro-choice, Team Shill.

Fuckwit: You have a choice to not use internet. Otherwise your provider is collecting your info. It does not matter what the info is used for. You start making excuses for what it is used for and you will see no end to it being used. I am not defending the use these methods of data mining for the government nor google. I am saying there needs to be regulation for both corporations and government. There are no laws now that Google nor the US Government is breaking. I am pro choice Strawman!

The purity and potency of this sort of derp could power a fucking city the size of LA for an entire year.

[Kevin Bjonrson]

Of course. As president, Obama is an idiot. As a politician, he is a genius. For Obama to grant Snowden amnesty, that would become an issue in subsequent Democrat party campaigns. Obama is oblivious to damage control because he doesn't care about the real world, only appearances and social acceptance.

[Pulseguy]

Snowden is white. I don't see Obama giving him a pardon. If he were black....I don't know. I think it would be on the table.

[joebanana]

So where are the prosecutions of the guilty parties? The violators of our right to privacy? They don't get a free pass, lets see some jail time g damn it.

[sxweiss]

There is no way that Mr. Snowden could ever trust the United States government. There is no reason for him to even consider any discussion of amnesty.

Think about this:

Barack Obama just won Liar of the Year award from Politifact.com

Would you trust a liar like that?

I don't.