An adviser to Edward Snowden has ruled out plea talks with the U.S. government unless Snowden is offered amnesty. Attorney General Eric Holder said last week he is open to meeting with Snowden’s lawyers, but ruled out the prospect of amnesty or clemency. Calls for clemency have grown in recent weeks after Snowden’s disclosures led President Obama to announce a series of National Security Agency reforms and an independent government panel declared the agency’s bulk collection of phone records illegal. Speaking to NBC from Russia, Snowden adviser Jesselyn Radack said Snowden should be able to return a free man.
Jesselyn Radack: “It’s a little disheartening that he seemed to take clemency and amnesty off the table, which are two of the negotiating points. But again, none of us have been contacted yet about restarting negotiations. And also, I think the 'no harm, no foul' [for Snowden] is not apt. I mean, there has been plenty of suffering on the part of Edward Snowden. He’s been punished quite a bit already. And while we are glad to dialogue and negotiate, he is not going to come back and face an espionage prosecution.”