Der Spiegel: “Are you going to pardon Edward Snowden?”

POTUS Barack Obama:  “I can’t pardon somebody who hasn’t gone before a court and presented themselves, so that’s not something that I would comment on at this point.”

Mike Pompeo, Trump’s nominee for the CIA post, considers that Snowden is a traitor who should be put to death. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

“I think that Mr. Snowden raised some legitimate concerns. How he did it was something that did not follow the procedures and practices of our intelligence community.

If everybody took the approach that I make my own decisions about these issues, then it would be very hard to have an organized government or any kind of national security system,” Obama said in an interview to German Magazine Der Spiegel.

RELATED POST: SNOWDEN: CIA Director Wants Dissidents Like Me Put to Death

“At the point at which Mr. Snowden wants to present himself before the legal authorities and make his arguments or have his lawyers make his arguments, then I think those issues come into play.

Until that time, what I’ve tried to suggest — both to the American people, but also to the world — is that we do have to balance this issue of privacy and security.”

Simply Not True

Obama is plain wrong when he states that he ‘cannnot’ pardon Snowden. Obama could pardon him if he wanted to do so.

According to a Supreme Court decision in 1886, the POTUS has the right to pardon Mr. Snowden.

The ruling reads:

“The power of pardon conferred by the Constitution upon the President is unlimited except in cases of impeachment.

It extends to every offence known to the law, and may be exercised at any time after its commission, either before legal proceedings are taken or during their pendency, or after conviction and judgment.”

REFERENCES

Obama says he can’t pardon Snowden — ars TECNIQUA

Barack Obama will not pardon Edward Snowden unless he goes to court

Obama Refuses to Pardon Edward Snowden

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Obama: “I Cannot Pardon Snowden.”