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Snowden signals willingness to return if fair trial guaranteed

A giant screen displays the image of fugitive US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden as he is represented by an empty chair while being awarded the freedom of expression prize Bjornson in Molde, Norway, on September, 5, 2015. (AFP photo)

American whistle-blower Edward Snowden says he would be willing to return to the United States if the government could guarantee a fair trial.

The former National Security Agency contractor has been living in Russia since June 2013 after he released thousands of classified intelligence documents about US surveillance programs.

He is wanted in the US on multiple espionage charges that could land him in jail for up to 30 years.

“I’ve told the government I would return if they would guarantee a fair trial where I can make a public interest defense of why this was done and allow a jury to decide,” Snowden told the New Hampshire Liberty Forum, a libertarian conference, via Skype on Saturday.

The 45-minute conversation at the annual conference began with supporters holding up masks bearing Snowden’s portrait, causing him to smile and wave.

The New Hampshire Liberty Forum began with the audience holding up masks bearing Snowden’s portrait.

Snowden said seeking asylum in Russia, something the US government criticizes him for, was not his choice as his country was not allowing him to return.

Snowden previously said that he had made offers to the US government to return home and discuss a plea deal.

Former US Attorney General Eric Holder indicated last year that a plea deal with Snowden was a possibility, but the whistle-blower said in October that he and his lawyers were still waiting to hear from the government.

The top-secret documents leaked by Snowden revealed the existence of mass surveillance programs that involve, among other things, collecting phone records of millions of Americans and foreign nationals as well as political leaders around the world.

Many Americans regard Snowden as a national hero for blowing the lid off the US government’s global surveillance operations.


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