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Ask Slashdot: What Does Edward Snowden Deserve?
Nerval's Lobster writes "U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder made government whistleblower Edward Snowden a very peculiar offer last week: plead guilty, and the U.S. government would consider how to handle his criminal case. That seems an inverted way of doing things—in the United States, the discussions (if not the trial) usually come before the guilty plea—but Holder's statement hints yet again at the conundrum facing the government when it comes to Snowden, a former subcontractor for the National Security Agency (NSA) who leaked secrets about that group's intelligence operations to a number of newspapers, most notably The Guardian. It's unlikely that the U.S. government would ever consider giving full clemency to Snowden, but now it seems that various officials are willing to offer something other than locking him in a deep, dark cell and throwing away the key. If Snowden ever risked coming back to the United States (or if he was forced to return, thanks to the Russians kicking him out and no other country willing to give him asylum), and you were Holder and Obama, what sort of deal would you try to strike with everybody's favorite secrets-leaker?"
And a self-righteous prick. Did a good job stabbing our military and CIA operatives in the back. Idea: Because of over-reaching police and government, let's get rid of the NSA, the police, the CIA and our military and let's stop spying on sleeper cells. Maybe the orthodox Muslims like us now? The only thing Jihadist killers hate about Americans and Israelis is that we are breathing in and out.
To serve only self is the ultimate slavery.
Bush pardoned himself
Fiction. Deliberate BS on your part.
Why stops Obama from pardoning Snowden?
Recognition that he (Snowden) babbled about a lot more than just say "the NSA is doing stuff we all know they're doing." Including specific details on overseas operations/capabilities.
We all know that Snowden should be protected by the whisleblower protection act
No, we don't all know that. Because he didn't pursue his crusade using any of the procedures that would grant him that protection. Not even close.
but the government is weaseling its way around the law
Really? Which one. Be specific. The law is very clear about taking over other people's NSA user accounts, dumping tons of data, running off with it, and disclosing it in direct contradiction to the oath you just recently swore not to do that very thing.
Funny, since he was working for the government, he is liable for espionage charges
You don't have to be working for the government to be prosecuted for espionage. Why are you just making stuff up?
Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.