Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden

[627467]

I'm not American so my opinion won't matter.

Yet, in my view Snowden actions have been extremely important to set the discussions we are having today: how private do we expect our digital lives to be be it from the state or from megacorps.

I doubt that Facebook/CA affair in 2016 elections would have come to light (or have the same impact) had Snowden leaks not had happened.

I doubt that Europeans would have stoped being 100% subservient to American tech megacorps had those leaks not had happened.

I think alot of people around the world started even considering the importance of who is watching or listening to their digital life because of Snowden. Or at least, because of the conversation that his leaks started.

He wasnt alone in leaking information important to these conversations, but he definitely has become an important advocate of his leaks and his own message.

[surround]

A nice example is uBlock Origin, which was (probably) created as a result of the Snowden leaks.

June 2013 - Snowden leaks NSA documents

September 2013 - the first commit to the Script HQ extension is made (which soon became HTTP Switchboard, which later became uMatrix and uBlock)

https://github.com/gorhill/httpswitchboard/commits/master?af...

[lazyjones]

Snowden is doing OK apparently, he should pardon Assange - who is not so well - quickly.

[Daviey]

Trump did love Wikileaks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnEoVzLKNPw

[mindcrime]

I'll be impressed when he actually issues a pardon. I'd say Trump is notorious for "talking about" things without ever delivering anything. Take the issue of 50 state concealed carry reciprocity. Regardless of what you think about this issue yourself, it seems clear that Trump has tried to pander to gun owners and 2A advocates by constantly talking about this. But last I heard, there had been no meaningful action on it, or any reason to believe he was actually pushing his allies in Congress on the issue.

[krick]

I agree with all these "wake me up when it happens" poster, because I just generally don't like "nothing happened" news.

But seriously, say Trump (or whoever might have been in his place) actually wants to do this as a populistic move: is it hard to do? Does it require any bureaucratic bullshit, arguing with people, forcing stuff, or is it just some paper to sign and it's done? Does it require any effort (and how much) on his side to actually pardon Snowden?

[cryptonector]

If you'd been paying attention you'd know that the President has the absolute, unquestionable power to pardon offenses against the United States, which specifically means: offences under Federal law, but not offenses under State law.

[option]

Snowden should be pardoned. Good for Trump if he does this

[hi41]

I am excited by this development. Snowden is a patriot by becoming a whistle blower. I am also saddened by Obama’s complete refusal to pardon Snowden. Why would Obama who is a progressive leader not pardon Snowden. That was a hard thing for me to swallow. I hope Trump hurries and gets it done asap. Snowden has suffered a lot for his ethical actions. I hope he gets to come home and not suffer anymore.

[kgarten]

Is it just me or is the term leaker politically charged in the context. For me, Snowden is a whistle blower not a leaker. There's a reason why he revealed secretes (he also didn't just release them, but was very careful how much he revealed), the secrete programs were unconstitutional -> whistle blower not leaker.

edit: typo.

[andrei_says_]

Thank you for this.

He exposed clearly illegal activity and framing him as a leader changes the narrative.

He is a whistleblower who upheld his oath to protect the constitution of the US, in the face of severe consequences.

[boomboomsubban]

Snowden's method of whistleblowing was leaking documents to the press. He is both.

[propogandist]

they've intentionally selected the word due to it's negative context. The usage of "leaker" allows them to play to the 'orange man bad' narrative, which they value more than getting Snowden pardoned.

[cortesoft]

Leaking is a type of whistleblowing. Not all whistleblowers are leakers, but leaking secret information is one way to be a whistleblower.

[jgrowl]

This is known as Russell's conjugation in honor of Bertrand Russell's discussion of the topic on the BBC in 1948

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotive_conjugation

[duxup]

I've seen him refered to as a leaker before, I honestly didn't think much of it.

I don't think that term is automatically negative.

[atlgator]

He was not a Government employee at the time. Contractors don't get to be whistle blowers.

EDIT: Turns out the law does protect contractors, so I guess it's circumstantial that employees get branded whistle blowers and contractors get charged as spies.

[duxup]

I suppose on his mind this might fit with some sort of fight with the "deep state".

Beyond that I would just chalk it up to some inherent capriciousness... bordering on concerning instability.

[cryptonector]

You've addressed the President's possible motivations. But, do you think Snowden should be pardoned? Just curious. (It's a tough call. I've not decided my own position on the matter.)

[devtul]

> <Person I despise> does something I like > No! It doesn't matter, his motives must have been terrible.

I will never understand this kind of reaction, when you get so emotional about something that all pragmatism goes out the window.

[glaive123]

This is not news. Let's see him actually pardon Snowden, then talk about it.

[jjordan]

Considering 3-4 years ago he referred to him as a traitor, I'd say the significant shift in stance is news. Should a pardon happen, this would set an important precedent for future whistleblowers and for the rule of law in the often obfuscated corners of the federal government.

Support the efforts of Rand Paul and Thomas Massie, who have already publicly stated their support for a Presidential pardon in this case.

[surround]

Seven years ago, Trump said Snowden should be executed.

Four years ago, in an interview, Obama refused to pardon Snowden.

I’d say this is a notable development.

[s17n]

If he actually does it I'll seriously considering voting for him. He won't, though.

[tbronchain]

Probably why he's considering - or talking about - it now.

[0xy]

Trump is an expert at A/B testing public opinion, and this is a clear A/B test. "Considering" means he's gauging support and will use that data to make a decision. He's done this forever, and it's the reason he prefers in-person events for real-time A/B testing of ideas.

It's not a novel concept either, Biden and others regularly use this technique.

[jhardy54]

This single issue is not worth overlooking the rest of Trump and the GOP.

[eagsalazar2]

It is interesting, your comment is completely insane to me. Doesn't that seem strange to you too?

[coronadisaster]

Also repeal the "PATRIOT" Act while you're thinking about doing the right thing...

[insickness]

Presidents can't repeal laws. Only congress can do that.

[pfarnsworth]

No he didn't, he said no such thing.

If you listen to the video, all he did was say he knows nothing about the issues, but he'll "look into it." That's his standard line. He wasn't actually saying he was considering it at all. Honestly, I don't think he would really have any intention to pardon Snowden. It gains him no points with the left, and would damage him with his base supporters. That's probably why the media reported it, to try to get his supporters upset at him.

It's the same thing with the whole manufactured outrage of Kamala Harris and the question posed to him by the reporter. Trump didn't even mention Harris, and the reporter brought it up and asked him whether he heard about the report. Trump said that he knew nothing about it, and he would have assumed that the Democrats would have already validated Harris' eligibility, but he would "look into it." He never even made a point about it, it was obvious it was a non-issue to him. It's a meaningless statement that the media tries to use to make him look bad, and meanwhile it just lets his supporters keep saying that the media lies, which is true when they bend the truth like they do.

[1MachineElf]

Just do it.

[kgwxd]

It's obviously some kind of campaign tactic. Appeal to the nerds.

[drewcoo]

Even in the title, Reuters editorializes blatantly by labeling Snowden "leaker." And the downvotes here are already clearly politically motivated.

[duxup]

Personally I don't see leaker as an automatic pejorative.

[briandear]

Define the term leaker. And then address if Snowden was that. Motivation doesn’t change the definition of the term.

[stjohnswarts]

leaker is neutral, it's not a pejorative

[C19is20]

Any politician would. That's what they do.

[lightgreen]

This is just absurd.

If moon was square, Trump would become a dolphin. This kind of statement.

Pardoning Charles Manson won't help get anyone reelected. Saying what Trump would do "if" is just a demagogy.

[duskwuff]

I think you've mixed up Snowden (whose leaks were all around 2013, well before the Trump campaign) and Assange (who fits your description).

[Tostino]

What are you talking about? Never heard that angle before at all.

[cryptonector]

This is the first I've heard of Snowden helping elect Trump.

[lightgreen]

As well as several other country leaders, e. g. presidents/PMs of UK, Italy, France etc.