Russia Considers Returning Snowden to U.S. to Curry Favor With Trump: Official

[Zorro]

Source: NBC News

U.S. intelligence has collected information that Russia is considering turning over Edward Snowden as a "gift" to President Donald Trump — who has called the NSA leaker a "spy" and a "traitor" who deserves to be executed.

That's according to a senior U.S. official who has analyzed a series of highly sensitive intelligence reports detailing Russian deliberations and who says a Snowden handover is one of various ploys to "curry favor" with Trump. A second source in the intelligence community confirms the intelligence about the Russian conversations and notes it has been gathered since the inauguration.

Snowden's ACLU lawyer, Ben Wizner, told NBC News they are unaware of any plans that would send him back to the United States.

"Team Snowden has received no such signals and has no new reason for concern," Wizner said.

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/russia-eyes-sending-snowden-u-s-gift-trump-official-n718921

---

Uh oh, Comrade...

[fountainofyouth]

1. I'm staring to get lost in the leaks here

The fact that we picked up on these conversations is very sensitive intelligence. Why would the IC leak this? Who does it discredit? I've lost the plot!

[cstanleytech]

3. " I've lost the plot!" Which could have been the point.

[Equinox Moon]

7. "I've lost the plot"

[joshcryer]

19. Trumps pick for CIA director, Mike Pompeo, wants Snowden's head.

Leaking this desire would be a no-brainer from his and intel's perspective. Snowden was an embarrassing mark on the intelligence community. Though my theory is that Snowen worked for the CIA as a mole into NSA inner workings, and wound up failing his job spectacularly, and they want him back as a turned agent.

[Equinox Moon]

2. His asylum was just renewed for 2 years.

The first time was 1 year. The second time was 3 years.

He probably has an escape plan if it came down to being deported. (?)

[cstanleytech]

5. His options are somewhat limited though unless he can get assistance from another government

or someone who is extremely wealthy to get out and then into another country without being intercepted by the US or one of its allies on the way.

[Equinox Moon]

6. Tricky life, that's for sure.

He is infamous with a lot of friends worldwide. I would be very shocked if he ever ends up in a US prison.

[cstanleytech]

8. Well he deserves a few of them imo atleast for not limiting what he released to only

information on the US spying illegally on its own citizens.

[Equinox Moon]

9. I'm a Snowden fan and will always be rooting for him.

Just think, if he had not revealed, we would be completely in the dark now about it. At least now with grabberman, we can try to protect ourselves since we know the government is still spying on us.

[cstanleytech]

10. And I am not arguing with you and saying you cannot be a fan.

Ya, the information about the illegal spying on its citizens (though programs like Carnivore were already known about for years) was ok to leak out but details on spying on other nations? No, that kind of thing isnt ok and thats why I think he deserves atleast 2 years in prison.
Now if he sold information to Russia or China or made a deal of information for transportation and or shelter then he deserves longer like 10 to 20 but I havent seen any proof that he did that.

[Egnever]

11. The idea that Snowden revealed anything is nonsense

The information was revealed during Shrubs term and no one gave a shit. It was only once Obama was in office and it could be used against him that people all of a sudden cared.

http://www.salon.com/2006/06/21/att_nsa/

That article is from 2006 years before Snowden or Obama.

[ucrdem]

14. Bingo.

And the irony of operation Screwball was that Obama had signed major NSA reforms into law back in 2009 in those first months when Dems held both houses, including the accountability procedures that produced the surveillance data we were all shocked, shocked to learn of. Well before that they didn't produce data or follow any accountability procedures at all. But supposedly we didn't know a thing about any of it until Eddy turned up that legally issued Verizon warrant.

Good times.

[JonLP24]

21. I know liberals cared under Bush's term

But since the leaks happened under Obama liberals defended the programs but there is plenty of new information in the Snowden archive.

[uncle ray]

12. if anything, snowden helped enable the situation that got the nuclear creamsickle elected.

[joshcryer]

18. Wyden and Udall actually broke the story in their hearings.

If we allowed the political process to go forward and didn't get media sensationalizing the story, we may well have had at least the Ending Secret Law Act out of committee, quietly passing through back room deals. Instead, the NSA and CIA and intelligence community overall was strengthened by Snowdens revelations, because the media made a fuss, and the people didn't give a good damn, since it was so sensationalized.

It became a story about how the NSA and CIA were duped by a lone libertarian and not a story about how the NSA and CIA shouldn't be doing what they were doing. They scrapped all the tools, and then got the FISA courts to rubber stamp things much easier by "separating" data gathering and placing the onus on corporations. We know this is factually true by how canaries have been falling one by one.

Corporations, in order to fall in line with the Patriot Act, simply give up any data asked for. Period.

[Calista241]

20. He can't leave Russia without their permission.

If they want to arrest him and hand him over, there's nothing those friends will be able to do.

[hrmjustin]

4. Lmfao!

[truthisfreedom]

13. Argh. To provide cover for the cozy new relationship with our former nemesis?

[murielm99]

15. Maybe as a reward for services already rendered?

[dawn frenzy adams]

16. Well, you can bet Pootie got everything he wanted

[Corey_Baker08]

17. Maybe Now He'll Leak Key Information About Exactly How Russia Hacked The Election...

Best case scenario he gives specific & detailed evidence & testimony on his involvement & more specifically Russia's involvement in hacking the election to get Trump elected, the American people demand and through any means necessary get Trump/Pence impeached in hopes that the next Democratic President in 2020 or before consider him a whistleblower and grant him a pardon...

Hows that for wishful thinking?

Did I mention in this dream Trump is in prison for stealing the election?