ahlam1399
09-14-2016, 12:51 AM
LONDON: US intelligence whistleblower Edward S**wden called on President Barack Obama to pardon him, saying in comments published 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, fuelling a firestorm over the issue of mass surveillance.
"If **t for these disclosures, if **t 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.
The 33-year-old insisted he had widespread support, saying the "public by and large cares more about these issues far more than I anticipated."
S**wden, whose residency permit in Russia runs out next year, explained he was prepared to spend time in jail in the US, adding he was "willing to make a lot of sacrifices for my country".
US anti-establishment director Oliver Stone called for Obama to pardon S**wden while unveiling his espionage thriller biopic about the whistleblower at the Toronto film festival earlier this month.
Last year, the White House rejected a petition signed by over 150,000 urging a pardon for S**wden, saying he should be "judged by a jury of his peers".
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The former intelligence contractor has spent three years in exile in Russia after initiating the largest data leaks in US history, fuelling a firestorm over the issue of mass surveillance.
"If **t for these disclosures, if **t 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.
The 33-year-old insisted he had widespread support, saying the "public by and large cares more about these issues far more than I anticipated."
S**wden, whose residency permit in Russia runs out next year, explained he was prepared to spend time in jail in the US, adding he was "willing to make a lot of sacrifices for my country".
US anti-establishment director Oliver Stone called for Obama to pardon S**wden while unveiling his espionage thriller biopic about the whistleblower at the Toronto film festival earlier this month.
Last year, the White House rejected a petition signed by over 150,000 urging a pardon for S**wden, saying he should be "judged by a jury of his peers".
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/com/YEor/~4/fyj3I1QxAlo
أكثر... (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/com/YEor/~3/fyj3I1QxAlo/150047-S**wden-urges-Obama-to-pardon-him)