White House, Lawmakers Reject Clemency For Edward Snowden - AP/SFExaminer

[WillyT]

White House, lawmakers reject clemency for Edward Snowden
By The Associated Press/SFExaminer
11/3/13



<snip>

The White House and the heads of the intelligence committees in Congress are rejecting a plea for clemency by National Security Agency-contractor-turned-fugitive Edward Snowden.

White House adviser Dan Pfeiffer says no such offers are being discussed. He tells ABC's "This Week," that Snowden should return to the U.S. and face charges, which include leaking classified information.

That sentiment is echoed by the committee chairmen, Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California and Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan.

Rogers calls clemency for Snowden a "terrible idea." Feinstein says Snowden broke the law, when he could have privately reported his revelations to her committee.

<snip>

Link: http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/white-house-lawmakers-reject-clemency-for-edward-snowden/Content?oid=2618757

[Luminous Animal]

1. Report privately to her committee? That is hilarious...

The poster woman for the surveillance state would have us and Snowden believe that her NSA spying enabling committee would have lifted a finger to curtail the NSA's activities.

What a sick joke.

What is likely is that he would have ended up persecuted and prosecuted ala Thomas Drake with his career and life ruined. It was just such prosecution of whistleblowers like Drake that led Snowden to take the path that he did.

[msanthrope]

2. Yes...under the Intelligence Community Whistleblower's Protection Act

DiFi would have been a proper congressperson to report to. Snowden would have been immune from prosecution.



http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/18/19024443-analysis-why-edward-snowden-isnt-a-whistle-blower-legally-speaking?lite

[Luminous Animal]

3. Proper does not equal effective.

[msanthrope]

11. Indeed..for justice delayed is justice denied. Of course, the patriot who wrote that wrote it from

his jail cell. He didn't avoid discomfort. And he didn't run to Russia.

[Luminous Animal]

12. Yeah, Snowden witnessed Thomas Drake's justice.

Why do we insist that the best amongst us suffer? Do you think that Thomas Drake deserved a ruined life for going through the proper channels? He doesn't think so and has championed Snowden's decision for avoiding his fate.

[WillyT]

14. Don't You See... We Are All Supposed To Sacrifice Our Lives And Fortunes For The 1%...

At least that's what I'm getting out of the current times we're in.

[Luminous Animal]

16. Yeah. Appeal to DiFi. The very person who has introduced legislation to

make NSA illegal activities legal.

DiFi, "Well that is a very interesting story that you are telling us. We will take it under consideration. You are dismissed."

[FirstLight]

28. +1000

[WillyT]

4. Sure... And It Would All Have Been Quietly Swept Under The Rug...

[msanthrope]

10. Possibly...but we will never know, since Snowden failed to follow the law. nt

[Luminous Animal]

15. He "failed to follow the law" because he saw the consequences of those before him...

who attempted to follow the law. He was aware of the fate of Binney and Drake. You are not stupid, look them up and see what happened to them when they tried to "follow the law".

This is no nuance here.

[msanthrope]

17. One should not follow the law because one doesn't like the consequences of the law?

I have many clients who feel that way.

[WillyT]

18. George Bush And Dick Cheney Are Your Clients ???

Impressive.

[Luminous Animal]

20. Hahaha!!! Nice!

[Luminous Animal]

19. If a law is unjust yes. I suppose you'd be the type of lawyer that would support

Jim Crow merely because it "was the law".

[msanthrope]

21. MLK broke unjust laws....and still took his punishment. nt

[WillyT]

22. I Forget... How Long Was MLK Stripped Naked And Held In Solitary Confinement ???

[Luminous Animal]

23. And you would have supported that punishment because he "broke the law."

If his punishment was life in prison, you would have supported it because he "broke the law."

MLK not once ever faced decades in prison but if he had, you would not have advocated for his freedom or clemency, because he "broke the law."

[NuclearDem]

27. MLK didn't release classified information or expose the surveillance state.

Civil disobedience of segregation laws nowhere nears in punishment to what intelligence community whistleblowers get.

The "proper" avenues involve reporting to the same corrupt officials who likely gave the violation their rubber stamp in the first place. They're a joke.

[Luminous Animal]

26. 70 (That is SEVENTY) rights groups warn UK government reaction to NSA leaks eroding freedom

I know what side of history I was on during the civil rights movement and I know what side of history I am now.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/03/uk-reaction-nsa-leaks-human-rights

[xchrom]

5. difi -- you remain an insult to thinking americans every where.

what a useless waste of space she is.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. Going to DiFi would've been like a mafioso going to the Godfather with complaints about crime.

[Luminous Animal]

24. Yes, indeed! Love this!

[woo me with science]

7. ...

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kpjhmROw4Gw/Uheu86dWqmI/AAAAAAAA3RA/0wj5M3H7EcM/s1600/When+exposing+a+crime+is+treated+as+committing+a+crime+you+are+ruled+by+criminals.jpg

[Demeter]

9. Love your little cartoon, there

Mind if I borrow it?

[Demeter]

8. How convenient for us all that the criminals Snowden has exposed are all in US

I'm sure, just as soon as Holder is done with prosecuting the banksters, he'll get right on it....

[polichick]

13. But Cheney and the banksters are good to go.

[RobertEarl]

25. Di Fi is a failure

She was in the Senate before 9/11, too.

She is the one we expected to uncover the agencies meanderings. She either willfully or negligently failed to do her basic job. She has failed this country. She needs to go.