Snowden should be pardoned. Good for Trump if he does this
Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden
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Re: Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden
#22Trump wants to help a traitor that helped him get elected? Sounds so unlike him!
Re: Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden
#23Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm glad Edward Snowden leaked what he did, but I'm not sure a pardon makes any sense at all.
I think it’s unlikely Snowden would ever receive a fair trial, therefore a pardon is the best course of action, erring on the side of compassion versus “justice” typically dispensed by the US justice system. What he revealed about the domestic surveillance apparatus violating US law and citizens’ rights had significant value to nation. Regardless, if this is how the pardon comes about, I happily support it even if it…
I wonder what a fair trial means to people...his own admissions include describing his own illegal activity...
Re: Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden
#24Two possibilities come to mind:
1. My uninformed kneejerk guess is that Russia, for whatever reason, wants to be rid of Snowden. It's the only explanation for why Trump—who has no pressing reason to be thinking about Edward Snowden right now, and almost certainly does not approve of Snowden or people like him—would suddenly raise the issue.
2. That, or it's something Trump knows will get everyone talking and he needs a distraction. Maybe both.
I could be missing something, but I can't see how this is going to help Trump in an election at all. The people who care about Snowden are not going to overlook everything else Trump has done, and at the risk of sounding callous, I don't think most millenials are really thinking about Snowden at this point.
The question for me is why Putin wants Edward Snowden gone, and when you look at the one vs. the other, the answer looks pretty clear to me.
Re: Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden
#25I 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.
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.)
Re: Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden
#26Two possibilities come to mind: 1. My uninformed kneejerk guess is that Russia, for whatever reason, wants to be rid of Snowden. It's the only explanation for why Trump—who has no pressing reason to be thinking about Edward Snowden right now, and almost certainly does not approve of Snowden or people like him—would suddenly raise the issue. 2. That, or it's something Trump knows will get everyone talking and he needs…
I don't think Russia needs anyone's help being rid of Snowden...
Russia is not a very free country, if they want him silent, gone, whatever it would happen.
Re: Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden
#27Earlier quoted context omitted.
Your quote is from... October 2013 [1]. I think Trump's views and information might have changed since then, and the state of the world has changed which will modify the pros and cons of this move to trump. I expect his decision will mostly be made based on how he perceives it impacting his chance of getting re-elected. I haven't noticed trump ever being particularly concerned about what the intelligence community th…
This will garner him one mail in vote from Russia.
Not trying to change the subject, but that's kind of an interesting question actually.
Can Edward Snowden vote in US elections? As far as I know, he's still an American citizen, and he hasn't been technically convicted of anything.
Re: Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think it’s unlikely Snowden would ever receive a fair trial, therefore a pardon is the best course of action, erring on the side of compassion versus “justice” typically dispensed by the US justice system. What he revealed about the domestic surveillance apparatus violating US law and citizens’ rights had significant value to nation. Regardless, if this is how the pardon comes about, I happily support it even if it…
I think it's impossible to have a fair trial when the guy has made an entire career out of detailing precisely what illegal actions he has taken.
You can admit guilt and plead innocent. It's weird, but it's true. And the jury can acquit in spite of overwhelming evidence of guilt. That's how the anglosaxon system of criminal justice works (or used to; perhaps this is only true now in the U.S.?).
Re: Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden
#29Just do it.
Re: Trump says he is considering pardon for Edward Snowden
#30Trump will scarcely do something like this unless he thinks it will benefit him. Does he think millenials will love him for it or does he think Snowden has dirt on Obama? Time will tell.
I agree. But still. No way I'll vote for Trump, but I have to admit that such a pardon would have me feel just a bit less antipathy toward Trump.
Yeah. I don't like him (not eligible to vote for or against), but the "threat to our democracy" narrative is completely sunk. He clearly has no dictatorial aspirations. Maybe it's just because of events in the lead-up to the 2016 election, but if anything he seems worried about abuses of unchecked executive power on people's privacy. He's certainly at odds in some cases with Barr, who is a classic AG and wants ever-greater state power so long as it's responsibly exercised.