Mr. Snowden fired back the following day in a Twitter post of his own denying his leaking of documents exposing the NSA’s vast surveillance operations caused American deaths as Mr. Graham alleged.
“In seven years, no one has named a single American who died as a result of revealing the unlawful program of domestic mass surveillance because it didn’t happen. But exposing that crime did reform American laws and strengthen our rights,” Mr. Snowden countered.
Mr. Graham had no immediate public reaction Wednesday.
The Department of Justice charged Mr. Snowden with theft and violating the U.S. Espionage Act after the leaks occurred in 2013, but he has lived in Russia ever since and avoided standing trial.
High-ranking House lawmakers press to restore funds to Marine Corps long-range fires efforts December 15, 2020 A Landing Craft Air Cushion with the amphibious transport dock USS Green Bay (LPD 20), carrying High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, approaches the beach off of Okinawa, Japan on Jan. 31, 2020. The 31st MEU’s ability to conduct HIMARS amphibious landings provides a lethal capability in support of amphibious operations. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Joshua Sechser/U.S. Marine Corps) WASHINGTON A group of high-ranking House lawmakers are pressing to restore funds cut in the proposed fiscal 2021 defense spending bills for Marine Corps efforts to develop long-range precision fires capabilities.
Mr. Gaetz discussed having argued on Twitter with House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who recently called Mr. Snowden a traitor unworthy of receiving a presidential pardon.
“Liz Cheney, in her opposition to a Snowden pardon, is standing up for the national security apparatus that failed in Iraq, that failed in Afghanistan, that wants to keep us in war in Yemen and in Somalia and really every place on the planet earth where they think they can make a buck off of U.S. military engagement,” argued Mr. Gaetz.
“So I believe the president would be well-served to pardon Edward Snowden,” Mr. Gaetz added.
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