Rep. Liz Cheney
Elizabeth (Liz) Lynn CheneyHas Congress Conquered Russia Policy? GOP leaders go into offensive mode against Harris Republicans afraid of disaster in November MORE (R-Wyo.) Said on Sunday that pardon of former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden would be “unconscious” after President Trump
Donald John TrumpPresident Trump’s brother, Robert Trump, dies at 71 Trump to attend GOP convention every day: reports Trump breaks with CDC director over potential for ‘worst case’ amid pandemic, flu season MORE said he considered the idea at a recent press conference.
“Edward Snowden is a traitor. He is responsible for the largest and most damaging release of classified information in American history. He handed over American secrets to Russian and Chinese intelligence that put our troops and our nation in danger, “Cheney, the No. 3 Republican in the House of Representatives, tweeted on Sunday afternoon; “Forgiveness would be unconscious.”
Edward Snowden is a traitor.
He is responsible for the largest and most damaging release of classified information in American history.
He passed on American secrets to Russian and Chinese intelligence that put our troops and our nation in danger.
Forgiving him would be unintentional.
– Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) August 16, 2020
A day before Cheney’s remarks, Trump told a news conference at his New Jersey golf club that he was looking forward to forgiving the former NSA contractor, who was accused of espionage years ago after releasing classified documents related to U.S. surveillance programs.
“I’ll look at it,” Trump said at the news conference. “I’m not that aware of the Snowden situation, but I’ll start looking into it.”
“It seems to be a split decision. There are a lot of people who think he should be treated differently and other people think he did very bad things,” he continued.
Earlier this week, Trump also told the New York Post that he thought Snowden, who is currently in Russia, could return to the US without getting time behind bars.
“Snowden is one of the people they talk about. “They are talking about different people, but he is certainly one of the people they are talking about,” the president told the paper.
‘I think the DOJ wants to extradite him at the moment? … It’s definitely what I could see. A lot of people are on his side, I will say. I do not know him, have never met him. But a lot of people are on his side, “he said.
His recent remarks come a little over seven years after Trump said he thought Snowden was “a terrible threat” and “traitor” in an interview in 2013 while former President Obama was in office.
‘This man is really doing harm to this country, and he’s making us baptize as well. We can not allow this man to go out and reveal all our secrets and also humiliate us on every level. We should get him and get him back now, ‘he added.
.
