What if Trump pardons Snowden?

[Robert of Locksley]

I think it's pretty evident that the Republicans are planning an October Surprise and it seems to be linked to the idea that Obama/the Deep State has been spying on Trump and trying to stop him and his cronies from "draining the swamp."

I fully expect some kind of major show trial in the Senate or investigation by the DoJ that will finger Obama (and by proxy, Biden) in this supposedly nefarious scheme. Barr's removal of Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brad Wiegmann says to me that they're going to try to get at Biden through the Durham investigation and create all kinds of snowfall to sway voters.

I was wondering if there was going to be a Hail Mary pass of pardoning Snowden, who would then be flown to the US and paraded around by Trump as an example of someone who fought against Obama and Bush deep state perfidy in order to turn many progressives against voting for the Democrats?

There's been a lot of talk out there of a pardon for Snowden in the past few weeks, especially from extremely suspicious sources like Matt Gaetz. Reading several different twitter accounts and following some of the people who were involved with Snowden (like Glenn Greenwald), it seems that the idea is growing louder and louder. Is this part of a sudden announcement that is coming?

I'm not asking whether Snowden deserves a pardon, which is a complicated question. I'm not particularly fond of punishing whistle-blowers myself.

I'm asking whether it could possibly be used as a political weapon. I imagine that Putin would gladly send Snowden back. I don't know whether Snowden would go along with such a scheme or whether he would simply be so grateful to return that he would stay silent and let Trump and his cronies say what they will. That would be deeply depressing.

I rarely post here, but I've lurked ever since the site began. But with the JA trial starting soon and the uptick of Trump defenders coming from people involved with Snowden like Greenwald (who is questioning the entire Atlantic story today), I haven't seen anyone address this possibility. So I finally decided to post here after a very long time to get it out there before anything happens.

Do you think they would try something like that and what would the consequences be?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Nothing could be done about it and at this point not that many people would care.

It's not enough of a big deal to constitute an October surprise - very few voters would be influenced one way or the other.

[Walleye]

3. An October surprise won't work.

I don’t think, because nobody is surprised by anything anymore.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. That, and there's the fact that a lot of people will have already voted.

[SWBTATTReg]

6. I agree w/ you, I think the shock and awe of this guy's leaks has worn thin, and you're right,

a lot of voters won't even know what the guy did, etc. or care if he's pardoned (I don't care either, his expertise and knowledge would be nice in some niche somewhere in the US military / industrial complex (I hate this word, but can't think of a better one right now off the top of my head)). Perhaps instead of pardoning him 100%, engage him for a work release type program (in lieu of jail etc.) such as training folks, having him work as an advisor, etc. Tons of things where his expertise would be actually helpful.

[Walleye]

2. I'm hopeful that it's too late for these shenanigans to have any effect.

Obama spied on my campaign is a pretty lame tactic. They can’t let go of 2016 for some reason

[Sneederbunk]

5. Will Durham salvage his reputation?

If his report is a joke, his career is over in a Biden administration.

[moondust]

7. Wouldn't mean much.

I doubt that many Dump supporters even remember who Snowden is.

If a pardon comes it would probably be more about squeezing some amoral/lawless action out of the amoral/lawless pResident before he leaves office. In that regard, I've heard speculation that Putin may have had Navalny poisoned before Dump leaves office so as to avoid harsher U.S.-led repercussions. There could be more such attempts to carry out the unthinkable before Dump leaves.

My understanding is that Snowden released tons of raw intelligence that compromised sources and methods and may have endangered lives. He could therefore only hope to receive a pardon from an amoral/lawless pResident who couldn't care less about all that.

[Robert of Locksley]

8. Thanks for the responses!

Thank you for assuaging my fears a bit. Yes, that's true that most people will have voted by then. But I swear I've bitten my nails down to the quick worrying about Trump and Barr pulling some trick rabbit out of a hat.