Snowden Regrets Participating in Putin Propaganda

NSA leaker and indefinite Russian tourist Edward Snowden is not yet a pro at PR. After he showed up on state television to lob Vladimir Putin a question about the countrys own surveillance apparatus Putin dunked an incredulous, anti-U.S. blanket denial Snowden tried to explain that he was hoping to get Putins evasive response on the record. Now Snowdens allies are admitting the whole thing was a bad look. I dont think theres any shame in saying that he made an error in judgment, an anonymous source close to Snowden told the Daily Beast.

He basically viewed the question as his first foray into criticizing Russia. He was genuinely surprised that in reasonable corridors it was seen as the opposite, said ACLU lawyer and Snowden adviser Ben Wizner. It was the strongest possible question that could possibly get through [Putins propagandists], another person added. Predictably, Snowden was not permitted a follow-up.

I know this is hard to believe. I know if I was just watching from afar, Id think, Wow, they forced him [Snowden] to do this, Wizner added. But its not true. He just fucking did it.

If the plan was to kickstart a discussion, it worked the problem is were talking about Snowdens mistakes, not Putins.

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Snowden Regrets Participating in Putin Propaganda