Edward Snowden urges Obama to pardon him

September 13, 2016 21:29

US intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden called on President Barack Obama to pardon him, saying in comments published on Tuesday it had been morally "necessary" to shine a light on mass surveillance.

The former intelligence contractor has spent three years in exile in Russia after initiating the largest data leaks in US history, fueling a firestorm over the issue of mass surveillance.

"If not for these disclosures, if not for these revelations, we would be worse off," he told Britain's Guardian newspaper in a video-link interview from Moscow on Monday.

"Yes, there are laws on the books that say one thing, but that is perhaps why the pardon power exists -- for the exceptions, for the things that may seem unlawful in letters on a page but when we look at them morally, when we look at them ethically, when we look at the results, it seems these were necessary things," he said.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Satwik-Chirag, Crasto-Ponnappa move to Thailand Open semifinals

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty sailed to the semifinals with a straight-game win over Malaysians Junaidi Arif and Roy King Yap

Kanhaiya Kumar attacked during campaigning in Delhi

Kanhaiya in a statement said the attack was ordered by rival contender from the constituency Manoj Tiwari.

M&M shifts to high gear with Rs 37K cr investments

Automotive (auto) major Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), which is readying to launch nine sport utility vehicles (internal combustion engine/ICE), seven Born Electric Vehicles (BEVs), and seven light commercial vehicles by 2030, has outlined...

SC bids adieu to 'Mr Dependable' Justice A S Bopanna

Quoting Greek philosopher Socrates, Justice Bopanna emphasised that there are four qualities that are expected of a judge -- to hear courteously, to consider soberly, to answer wisely and to decide impartially.

To save a goon ...: AAP vs Swati Maliwal out in open

Atishi said the video shows Maliwal "comfortably sitting in the drawing room" and "threatening the security staff", and that "her clothes were not torn".