A US politician has shocked the public with a statement saying that Edward Snowden deserves to be pardoned and the US Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, should be convicted.
Rand Paul, a senator known for his outspoken criticism of the US government's surveillance programs, told ABC that he believes Snowden feared being sentenced to death or life in prison for his revelations about the NSA, which is why he is in Russia today. This is of course well known to the general public. The surprise came when he continued by saying:
“I personally believe that he will probably return home at some point, with a short prison sentence.”
And while Snowden may have to spend a few years in prison, Rand Paul said he believes others should also be held accountable, such as James Clapper, the director of National Intelligence, for repeatedly lying to Congress.
“I don’t think we can apply the law selectively. So if James Clapper has broken the law, there should be a prison sentence for him,” Paul said.
The idea that James Clapper and Keith Alexander, the director of the National Security Agency (NSA), should be prosecuted has been discussed for some time, but the chances seem slim. What government would prosecute the Secret Service for doing its job?
