Snowden sees no chance for fair trial in US
US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden preparing to make his television Christmas message on December 24, 2013. Snowden said he has no plans to return to the United States because he would have “no chance” for a fair trial. PHOTO | AFP
What you need to know:
- The comments came during the former National Security Agency contractor’s first such public forum since June
WASHINGTON
Fugitive intelligence leaker Edward Snowden said he has no plans to return to the United States because he would have “no chance” for a fair trial.
“The hundred-year-old law under which I’ve been charged ... forbids a public interest defence,” he said in a question-and-answer session on the “Free Snowden” website.
“This is especially frustrating, because it means there’s no chance to have a fair trial, and no way I can come home and make my case to a jury,” he said.
The comments came during the former National Security Agency contractor’s first such public forum since June.
Snowden was asked about the conditions under which he would return to the United States, where he faces espionage charges for leaking numerous documents about the agency’s surveillance programmes.
“Returning to the US, I think, is the best resolution for the government, the public, and myself, but it’s unfortunately not possible in the face of current whistle-blower protection laws, which, through a failure in law, did not cover national security contractors like myself,” he said.
“Maybe when Congress comes together to end the programmes ... they’ll reform the Whistle-blower Protection Act, and we’ll see a mechanism for all Americans, no matter who they work for, to get a fair trial,” he added.
