Media Hype Edward Snowden's Request for 'Clemency'—But Did He Even Ask for It?

[xchrom]

http://www.thenation.com/blog/176975/media-hype-edward-snowdens-request-clemency-did-he-even-ask-it



It was another momentous weekend in the months-long series of revelations about NSA spying or snooping or "data gathering" (if you will), highlighted by massive pieces in The New York Times and The Guardian about the agency attempting to secure every "morsel" of information out there, including tapping into Yahoo and Google and so on.

All of this stems from the files "gathered" (to borrow a word) by former contractor Edward Snowden. He is also in the news today via a Der Spiegel cover story--in which the magazine raises the issue of "asylum" for him in Germany. At the same time, media of all stripes, from NBC to the Associated Press, have been busy gathering quotes from administration officials and congress members soundly rejecting Snowden's call this weekend for "clemency."

One problem: Did he even make this request?

Glenn Greenwald, his reporter friend who should know, declared otherwise on Twitter this morning: "The US media fabricated this 'Snowden is pleading for clemency' fairy tale - where did this happen? Where did he 'plead for clemency'?" And: "All weekend, mindless TV news personalities asked: 'Snowden is pleading for clemency - what's your reaction?' This never happened."

[tridim]

1. Thanks GG for the "facts" on the matter.

Keep that scam going!!!!11

[SidDithers]

2. Greenwald. LOL...nt

Sid

[jsr]

3. It's an NSA meme: "Criminal begs for mercy"

[Blue_Tires]

4. He didn't ask straight up for "clemency"

But it is plain to see the "letter" (which by design is laughably lame, ambiguous and vague template material) is requesting international pressure for the U.S. to drop the charges...