Trump said that seriously studying the possibility of pardoning Snowden
The US President Donald trump said that seriously studying the possibility of pardoning former employee of the national security Agency (NSA) Edward Snowden.
"I will look into this. I'm not very familiar with the Snowden situation. But I'll start to study it... I will carefully study it," trump told reporters in the city of Bedminster, state of new Jersey, answering the question whether he is ready to pardon Snowden if he returns to the country. Stream his press conference was conducted on the White house website.
According to trump, the opinions in this matter were divided: many people think that Snowden should be treated differently, and someone thinks that he "did bad things".
On Thursday, the trump during an interview with the publication New York Post said that "a lot of people believe him (Snowden - ed.) is treated unfairly".
Snowden in June 2013 gave the Washington Post and the Guardian series of secret materials about the programs of surveillance of US intelligence and the UK on the Internet. He flew to Hong Kong and then to Moscow, where some time was in the transit area of Sheremetyevo airport.
Russia granted Snowden temporary asylum for one year on the condition that it will cease operations against the United States. In August 2014, Snowden received a three-year residence permit, which allows him to travel not only in Russia but also abroad. In January 2017 the residence permit, Snowden has been extended to 2020. In April, lawyer Anatoly Kucherena told RIA Novosti that Snowden has applied for renewal of residence permit in Russia for another three years.