In a bid to get his hands on Edward Snowden, Attorney General Eric Holder sent a letter to Russia promising not to torture or kill the NSA whistle-blower.

“First, the United States would not seek the death penalty for Mr. Snowden should he return to the United States. The charges he faces do not carry that possibility, and the United States would not seek the death penalty even if Mr. Snowden were charged with additional, death penalty-eligible crimes,” Holder promised, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Also, “Mr. Snowden would promptly be brought before a civilian court. … Mr. Snowden would receive all the protections that United States law provides to persons charged with federal criminal offenses.”

Snowden’s quest for political asylum depends on the belief that he will be mistreated by his home government. The mistreatment of Bradley Manning, who was held under appalling conditions until public outcry forced his transfer, bolsters Snowden’s claim. So does the United States’ use of the death penalty, which is prohibited in many countries, including Russia (capital punishment in Russia is technically legal, but has been indefinitely suspended since 1996).

Holder’s letter is reassuring, but then it also requires that you trust a government that, as Snowden himself exposed, has been covertly spying on its people in violation of its most cherished and venerated principles.

— Posted by Peter Z. Scheer

Wait, before you go…

If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface.  We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.

Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.

Support Truthdig
In this Article:
#amnesty#asylum#edward snowden#eric holder#law#nsa#russia#surveillance#surveillance state#torture