American whistleblower Edward Snowden is “considering” returning home to the USA under certain conditions, his lawyer told German news magazine Der Spiegel. "There are negotiations," Snowden's German lawyer Wolfgang Kaleck told Der Spiegel. "Those who know the case are aware that an amicable agreement with the US authorities will be most reasonable.” All efforts are now focused on finding a solution acceptable for Edward Snowden, at least in the medium term, according to Kaleck, who is also secretary-general for the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights. Meanwhile, former NSA contractor isn’t involved in these negotiations, according to Kaleck, who added that his client never acted selfishly and caused no damage. At Kaleck’s request, the NSA investigation committee in the German Bundestag, a constitutional and legislative body, is currently clarifying with the Cabinet of Germany (Bundesregierung) if the whistleblower can enter and testify there. Reports that the famous whistleblower wants to come back to the US and was seeking high-ranked lawyer to negotiate his return first emerged in April. The New York Times wrote that during the summer of 2013, Snowden was seeking the assistance of DC-based attorney Plato Cacheris to negotiate a plea deal with federal prosecutors that would allow Snowden to return to the US as well as spare him significant prison time. Snowden, while employed by the NSA, took up to 1.7 million classified files on US vast surveillance apparatus and intelligence gathering methods. The ex-NSA contractor is currently under temporary asylum in Russia. He is wanted by the US on charges of espionage and theft of government property after leaking a vast trove of classified material to journalists that revealed more understanding of the National Security Agency’s global spying operations. Earlier Snowden said that he wishes to return to the US, but is concerned he would be unfairly convicted of spying and subjected to the same treatment as other leakers who dared to expose government secrets during the Obama administration’s relentless pursuit of whistleblowers under the Espionage Act. On May 20, a plea to give political asylum to Snowden if Scotland votes for independence was sent to the Scottish Parliament. Campaigner Mick Napier, a teacher at University of Glasgow put forward a petition calling for Snowden, now rector of Glasgow University, to be given shelter in Scotland. |
美国“棱镜”监控丑闻揭秘者爱德华•斯诺登的律师沃尔夫冈•卡莱克向德国新闻杂志《明镜周刊》透露,斯诺登目前正“考虑”在某种条件下返回美国。 “双方正在谈判。所有熟悉此事的人都明白,与美国政府达成和解协议将是最合理的方式。”
据悉,斯诺登本人并未参与这些谈判。在卡雷克的请求下,德国联邦议院NSA调查委员会目前正在与德国内阁评估斯诺登是否可前来德国作证事宜。
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