Home ›› 23 Oct 2020 ›› World Biz
Edward Snowden, the expatriate intelligence leaker whom US President Donald Trump considered granting a pardon earlier this summer, has received an unlimited residency permit in Russia, his lawyer told Russian state news on Thursday.
The residency permit for the former National Security Agency contractor was set to expire in April but was extended until June due to the spread of the coronavirus. Snowden applied to renew his permit once self-isolation restrictions were lifted earlier this summer, Russian state news reported.
Snowden's lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, said he is not yet thinking about applying for Russian citizenship.
Responsible for what some consider the greatest intelligence breach in US history, Snowden in 2013 stole and released classified documents related to US surveillance programs and was subsequently charged under the Espionage Act.
His exile in Russia drew national attention again in August when Trump mused about pardoning him, saying at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, "It seems to be a split decision. There are many people who think that he should be somehow treated differently and other people think he did very bad things."
The Republican and Democratic leaders of the House Armed Services Committee said at the time that pardoning Snowden would amount to "a serious mistake" that "would completely undermine this administration's position and mock our national security workforce who take immense caution in their work to keep us safe."
Snowden exposed programs that have subsequently been reformed, come under new oversight or have been eliminated. He fled US territory in 2013 for Hong Kong, where he first met with reporters to release the information he had taken. Days later he traveled to Russia, where he was eventually granted asylum and has remained since.
As Russian state news described Thursday, "US administration officials have repeatedly stated that they consider Snowden to be a traitor and have no intention of forgiving him, as he seriously damaged national security interests," according to a translation.
(Source: US News)
