This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/02/world/europe/snowden-appeals-to-us-for-clemency.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Snowden Appeals to U.S. for Clemency | Snowden Appeals to U.S. for Clemency |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| BERLIN — Edward J. Snowden, the fugitive American security contractor granted asylum by Russia, has appealed to Washington to stop treating him like a traitor for revealing that the United States has been eavesdropping on its allies, a German politician who met with Mr. Snowden said on Friday. | BERLIN — Edward J. Snowden, the fugitive American security contractor granted asylum by Russia, has appealed to Washington to stop treating him like a traitor for revealing that the United States has been eavesdropping on its allies, a German politician who met with Mr. Snowden said on Friday. |
| The appeal came in a letter from Mr. Snowden carried to Berlin by Hans-Christian Ströbele, a veteran member of the Green Party in the German Parliament, who said that he and two journalists for German media met with Mr. Snowden and a person described as his assistant — probably his British aide, Sarah Harrison — at an undisclosed location in or near Moscow on Thursday for almost three hours. | The appeal came in a letter from Mr. Snowden carried to Berlin by Hans-Christian Ströbele, a veteran member of the Green Party in the German Parliament, who said that he and two journalists for German media met with Mr. Snowden and a person described as his assistant — probably his British aide, Sarah Harrison — at an undisclosed location in or near Moscow on Thursday for almost three hours. |
| In his letter, Mr. Snowden, 30, also appealed for clemency. He said his disclosures about American intelligence activity at home and abroad, which he called “systematic violations of law by my government that created a moral duty to act,” had had positive effects. | In his letter, Mr. Snowden, 30, also appealed for clemency. He said his disclosures about American intelligence activity at home and abroad, which he called “systematic violations of law by my government that created a moral duty to act,” had had positive effects. |
| Yet “my government continues to treat dissent as defection, and seeks to criminalize political speech with felony charges that provide no defense,” Mr. Snowden wrote. “However, speaking the truth is not a crime. I am confident that with the support of the international community, the government of the United Sates will abandon this harmful behavior.” | Yet “my government continues to treat dissent as defection, and seeks to criminalize political speech with felony charges that provide no defense,” Mr. Snowden wrote. “However, speaking the truth is not a crime. I am confident that with the support of the international community, the government of the United Sates will abandon this harmful behavior.” |
| Mr. Ströbele, 74, is a seasoned left-wing defense lawyer and the longest-serving member of the parliamentary committee that oversees German intelligence. At a packed news conference held after his return to Berlin, he said he had been trying to visit Mr. Snowden since the summer, when the American first arrived in Moscow in search of asylum. After a number of countries, including Germany, said Mr. Snowden could not apply for such protection from the Moscow airport where he was taking sanctuary at the time, Russia granted him a one-year asylum on Aug. 1. | Mr. Ströbele, 74, is a seasoned left-wing defense lawyer and the longest-serving member of the parliamentary committee that oversees German intelligence. At a packed news conference held after his return to Berlin, he said he had been trying to visit Mr. Snowden since the summer, when the American first arrived in Moscow in search of asylum. After a number of countries, including Germany, said Mr. Snowden could not apply for such protection from the Moscow airport where he was taking sanctuary at the time, Russia granted him a one-year asylum on Aug. 1. |
| Mr. Ströbele said he was contacted about going to Moscow late last week after Berlin said that Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cellphone might have been tapped by American intelligence agents. He declined to elaborate further, but said he had had no dealings with Russian authorities or the German Embassy in Moscow. | Mr. Ströbele said he was contacted about going to Moscow late last week after Berlin said that Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cellphone might have been tapped by American intelligence agents. He declined to elaborate further, but said he had had no dealings with Russian authorities or the German Embassy in Moscow. |
| Mr. Ströbele also went to Moscow to explore whether Mr. Snowden could or would testify before a planned parliamentary inquiry into the eavesdropping. Any arrangements for Mr. Snowden to testify would require intricate legal maneuvering, as it seems unlikely that he would travel to Germany for fear of extradition to the United States. | |
| He deftly parried requests to reveal more while appealing to the governments and citizens of Germany, France and the United States to stop treating Mr. Snowden as a criminal. | He deftly parried requests to reveal more while appealing to the governments and citizens of Germany, France and the United States to stop treating Mr. Snowden as a criminal. |
| Germany should thank Mr. Snowden, Mr. Ströbele said, echoing an opinion gaining support here. After ARD, the premier German TV network, reported on Thursday night about the Moscow visit, it broadcast a strident commentary stressing that Germany should show gratitude for his exposure of United States intelligence practices. | Germany should thank Mr. Snowden, Mr. Ströbele said, echoing an opinion gaining support here. After ARD, the premier German TV network, reported on Thursday night about the Moscow visit, it broadcast a strident commentary stressing that Germany should show gratitude for his exposure of United States intelligence practices. |
| Mr. Ströbele said he had found Mr. Snowden lucid and well informed. He said he had been told that Mr. Snowden was allowed to go shopping, but he declined to reveal any other details about Mr. Snowden’s routine. | Mr. Ströbele said he had found Mr. Snowden lucid and well informed. He said he had been told that Mr. Snowden was allowed to go shopping, but he declined to reveal any other details about Mr. Snowden’s routine. |
| News about the visit to Moscow eclipsed a number of interviews given on Thursday by the American ambassador, John B. Emerson, who tried to assuage German fears that the United States Embassy in Berlin was the center for monitoring Ms. Merkel and other well-placed Germans. | News about the visit to Moscow eclipsed a number of interviews given on Thursday by the American ambassador, John B. Emerson, who tried to assuage German fears that the United States Embassy in Berlin was the center for monitoring Ms. Merkel and other well-placed Germans. |
| Mr. Emerson, who arrived in Berlin two months ago and is a strong proponent of a landmark American and European trade deal under negotiation, was summoned to the German Foreign Ministry last week after Berlin’s suspicions about eavesdropping on Ms. Merkel were made public. The action was unprecedented in post-World War II relations between the United States and Germany. | Mr. Emerson, who arrived in Berlin two months ago and is a strong proponent of a landmark American and European trade deal under negotiation, was summoned to the German Foreign Ministry last week after Berlin’s suspicions about eavesdropping on Ms. Merkel were made public. The action was unprecedented in post-World War II relations between the United States and Germany. |
| Ms. Merkel herself, while palpably angry in appearances last week, has made no direct statements since, quietly sending two senior advisers to Washington this week to begin re-establishing the trust she said had been breached. | Ms. Merkel herself, while palpably angry in appearances last week, has made no direct statements since, quietly sending two senior advisers to Washington this week to begin re-establishing the trust she said had been breached. |
| Mr. Ströbele’s news conference yielded moments of humor as well. At one point, his cellphone rang. He pulled it out, looked at it and asked cheerfully, “Does anybody know the chancellor’s number?” | Mr. Ströbele’s news conference yielded moments of humor as well. At one point, his cellphone rang. He pulled it out, looked at it and asked cheerfully, “Does anybody know the chancellor’s number?” |
| Asked to speculate about which intelligence services might have monitored his trip to Moscow, he said with a smile, “I assume that they are all interested.” | Asked to speculate about which intelligence services might have monitored his trip to Moscow, he said with a smile, “I assume that they are all interested.” |