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Putin Gives NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden Russian Citizenship

Putin Gives NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden Russian Citizenship

Snowden only stays in Russia because he faces espionage charges.

Russian “President” Vladimir Putin granted NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden Russian citizenship.

In 2013, Snowden exposed the NSA’s plans to spy on American citizens in the U.S. and around the country. It wasn’t an intelligence leak. He tried to go through the proper channels in the government, but everyone ignored him.

Snowden fled to Hong Kong but only went to Moscow when Obama’s DOJ unsealed charges against him for violating the Espionage Act of 1917.

Russia gave Snowden asylum. In 2020, the Russian government gave Snowden permanent residency two years ago.

Snowden gave those classified NSA documents to journalists like Glenn Greenwald.

Greenwald reminded everyone today that the same people who now smear Snowden are the ones who had no problems publishing his documents and story.

Also, Snowden didn’t want to be in Russia, but the moves by the Obama administration trapped him in Moscow. The following administrations didn’t make it easier on him either.

All of this even though the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled the NSA program “was unlawful – and that the U.S. intelligence leaders who publicly defended it were not telling the truth.”

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Comments

Following in the footsteps of Biden, Obama, Clinton, Carter, DNC staff, even Bush Jr., no.

He just gave a bunch of Ukranians Russian citizenship too.

>> Putin gives Snowden citizenship…

Just in time to be conscripted into the Russian army.

Land of the Freakin’ Free my butt.
The world’s turned upside down.
Enjoy our lives in the USSA.

Wonder what frontline Putin will have him march towards.

Government secrecy is the greatest threat to democracy. There should be no government documents or actions beyond the purview of its citizens. If government secrecy is permitted government agencies will lie to get what they believe is needed for their purposes and that will be the beginning of the end of our republic.

    nordic prince in reply to kjon. | September 26, 2022 at 8:16 pm

    The bigger the government, the less transparent it is.

    henrybowman in reply to kjon. | September 26, 2022 at 8:22 pm

    In Roswell, Texas, state secrets of any kind are absolutely forbidden, government spying on citizens is illegal, and carrying guns (without a permit not to) is the law for everyone.
    And yet, even the “good guys” honor these restrictions too often in the breach…

Mary, you may just be the only one who reports this accurately. There is no reason for the media to get this story wrong. PBS did a documentary about how Cheney orchestrated his plan to use the FISA court to spy on Americans and ordered the government to collect every bit of intelligence they could. He was even shown on film admitting that he was violating the US Constitution… “Nothing will stand in the way of the love of my country.”

Then after Edward Snowden blew the whistle with the help of Glenn Greenwald, PBS did a follow-up report on exactly what happened. There have been books and a few other documentaries so the truth is available for those who aren’t afraid of it.

Now we are stuck with the “temporary” Patriot Act where we surrendered our civil rights…. forever. And Liz Cheney is “theatening” to quit the GOP if we nominate Trump? Chip off the old blockhead.

I wonder if Snowden regrets anything?

    henrybowman in reply to George_Kaplan. | September 26, 2022 at 8:26 pm

    There’s plenty to regret. But that’s not the same thing as saying it wasn’t worth the sacrifice, or you wouldn’t do it again if you had to.

    He did the right thing unless you think it was ok for the 4th amendment to become a complete and utter joke.

    He is a hero. You may have liked John Brennan being a god king but I am grateful Snowden blew the whistle and I just wish Trump had had the courage to let him come him.

    If you are familiar with Snowden, what motivated him to be a whistle blower and how he risked everything to warn Americans what was going on, it is a real stretch to believe that he is happy about being a Russian citizen. He never renounced his American citizenship. This guy is an American hero. And so is Glenn Greenwald.

    Funny how so many non-conservatives have stepped up to defend our constitutional rights. Yes, there still plenty of patriotic Americans who will drop their politics to do the right thing. Now if we can just get the polymorphic “conservatives” to stop lecturing us about what they will do if elected/re-elected and just do it…..

    If they were telling the truth, they would be saying “If re-elected, I will shit in my pants and being left with no alternative, will shrink away into the shadows in fear and wait for a change in wind direction.”

I think trump should have pardoned both brand Assange.

The CIA is angry with him. He might be safer in Russia.

retiredcantbefired | September 27, 2022 at 4:34 pm

I can’t blame Edward Snowden for taking Russian citizenship. If he tries to go anywhere else, he’ll be arrested.

Trump missed a major opportunity when he decided not to pardon Snowden and Julian Assange.

Those who advised him not to (such as Mike Pompeo) are unworthy to serve in any capacity in any future Republican administration.

Putin must be desperate for people to draft into the Army.