Lindsey Graham Urges Trump Not to Pardon ‘Traitor’ Edward Snowden as Many Ask For Him to Do So

In the last couple of days, requests have been made to President Trump to pardon whistleblower Edward Snowden, including from members of Congress.

Count Senator Lindsey Graham as one who said tonight that he doesn’t want Trump to issue a pardon to the American who was forced to seek asylum in Russia and now has been granted permanent residency.

Graham shared a New York Post article about Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard calling for his pardon and tagged the president while addressing “those urging a pardon of Edward Snowden.”

Graham insisted that they “are suggesting President Trump pardon a traitor. Edward Snowden is NOT a victim. Snowden has American blood on his hands and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Snowden betrayed his country, sought shelter in Putin’s Russia, and put American lives at risk — as well as those who risked their lives to help us in foreign lands,” Graham continued.

“To pardon Snowden would be a betrayal of all those who have sacrificed since 9/11 to protect our nation,” Graham concluded.

Snowden betrayed his country, sought shelter in Putin’s Russia, and put American lives at risk — as well as those who risked their lives to help us in foreign lands.

To pardon Snowden would be a betrayal of all those who have sacrificed since 9/11 to protect our nation.

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 15, 2020

Snowden appeared to respond to Graham on Twitter not long after as he said, “When a crooked politician calls me traitor, ask yourself: who did I betray?”

“The courts have ruled repeatedly that the programs I revealed were unlawful, and likely unconstitutional—a violation of your rights. If this is treason, what they call loyalty is a crime,” Snowden pointed out.

When a crooked politician calls me traitor, ask yourself: who did I betray? The courts have ruled repeatedly that the programs I revealed were unlawful, and likely unconstitutional—a violation of your rights.

If this is treason, what they call loyalty is a crime.

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) December 15, 2020

In an interview in September last year, Snowden told CBS co-hosts Gayle King and Tony Dokoupil on “CBS This Morning” that he “would like to return to the United States. That is the ultimate goal.”

“But if I’m going to spend the rest of my life in prison, the one bottom-line demand that we all have to agree to is that at least I get a fair trial,” Snowden continued.

Snowden believes “That’s the one thing the government has refused to guarantee because they won’t provide access to what’s called a public interest defense.”

“I’m not asking for a parade. I’m not asking for a pardon. I’m not asking for a pass. What I’m asking for is a fair trial. And this is the bottom-line that any American should require,” Snowden added.

Republican Senator Rand Paul is one who is at odds with his fellow Senator Graham, as he tagged President Trump in a tweet yesterday and said, “James Clapper brazenly lied to Congress denying that the Deep State was spying on all Americans.”

Paul explained that “Snowden simply revealed Clapper’s lies and exposed unconstitutional spying. He deserves a pardon from President Trump!”

James Clapper brazenly lied to Congress denying that the Deep State was spying on all Americans. @Snowden simply revealed Clapper’s lies and exposed unconstitutional spying. He deserves a pardon from @realDonaldTrump!

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 13, 2020

GOP House Reps. Matt Gaetz and Thomas Massie as well as Congresswoman-elect Marjorie Taylor Greene have also added their names to the list supporting a pardon.

Gaetz tweeted on Sunday, “President Trump is listening to the many of us who are urging him to #PardonSnowden. It’s the right thing to do.”

Massie retweeted Gaetz and claimed that “Now is the time to #pardonsnowden.”

Now is the time to #pardonsnowden https://t.co/41MrrIYwYB

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 13, 2020

Greene said that she agrees with Gabbard, Massie, and Gaetz. She tagged Trump and urged him to issue a “full pardon” to Snowden as well as Julian Assange, who Snowden has urged the president to pardon as well.

Greene then asserted that “Each risked his life to expose the crimes of Barack Obama and the Deep State against the American people. Let them be free!”

I agree with @TulsiGabbard, @RepThomasMassie, and @mattgaetz!@realDonaldTrump should issue a full pardon to Julian Assange and Edward @Snowden.

Each risked his life to expose the crimes of Barack Obama and the Deep State against the American people.

Let them be free! https://t.co/hMyLHCFwIb

— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) November 27, 2020