Edward Snowden: White House Rejects Pardon Plea

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The former National Security Agency employee who leaked details of US spying is told he must return to the US to face trial.

12:22, UK, Monday 03 August 2015

Snowden is living in Russia after leaking details of classified secrets

President Obama has rejected calls to pardon Edward Snowden for revealing details of America's unlawful spying programme.

A petition on the White House website declaring the former National Security Agency employee a national hero has gathered 167,955 signatures in two years.

But Obama's advisor on Homeland Security and Counterterrorism has spoken-out to insist Snowden should return to the US from Russia to face a criminal trial for espionage.

"MrSnowden's dangerous decision to steal and disclose classified information had severe consequences for the security of our country and the people who work to protect it," said Lisa Monaco.

"He should come home to the United States and be judged by a jury of his peers, not hide behind the cover of an authoritarian regime.

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Edward Snowden: White House Rejects Pardon Plea