Chinanews, August 16th, a comprehensive report, on the 15th local time, US President Trump said that he is considering pardoning former National Security Agency (NSA) employee Edward Snowden. Trump said in an interview a few days ago that "many people think he has been treated unfairly."
Data map: Snowden, a former employee of the National Security Agency.
According to the Russian Satellite Network, when asked if Snowden is going to be pardoned if he returns home, Trump said: "I will study this. I don't know much about Snowden. But I will start. Study this issue...I will study this issue very seriously." The White House website rebroadcast Trump's press conference.
Trump said that there are differences of opinion on this issue. Many people believe that Snowden should be treated differently, while some people believe that he "did bad things." Earlier on August 13, Trump said in an interview with The New York Post that “many people think he has been treated unfairly”.
Reuters said that Trump's softening of Snowden's stance represents a sharp reversal. Soon after the "Prism Gate" incident, Trump once called Snowden a "spy who should be executed."
In June 2013, Snowden provided a series of confidential materials related to the Internet surveillance and tracking program conducted by the US and British Secret Service to the Washington Post and the Guardian, and disclosed the "Prism Gate" incident. The US government subsequently announced that Snowden was wanted and prosecuted him with three felony counts including espionage.
In August 2013, Snowden was granted a "temporary asylum" permit in Russia. In August 2014, Snowden received a three-year residence permit in Russia; in January 2017, Snowden's residence permit was extended to 2020.
In September 2019, the US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Snowden, arguing that his new book "Permanent Record" violated the confidentiality agreement he signed with the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Snowden responded to this, saying that the US government's prosecution precisely reflected the authenticity of the book's content.