Ask Slashdot: What Does Edward Snowden Deserve?

Nerval's Lobster writes "U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder made government whistleblower Edward Snowden a very peculiar offer last week: plead guilty, and the U.S. government would consider how to handle his criminal case. That seems an inverted way of doing things—in the United States, the discussions (if not the trial) usually come before the guilty plea—but Holder's statement hints yet again at the conundrum facing the government when it comes to Snowden, a former subcontractor for the National Security Agency (NSA) who leaked secrets about that group's intelligence operations to a number of newspapers, most notably The Guardian. It's unlikely that the U.S. government would ever consider giving full clemency to Snowden, but now it seems that various officials are willing to offer something other than locking him in a deep, dark cell and throwing away the key. If Snowden ever risked coming back to the United States (or if he was forced to return, thanks to the Russians kicking him out and no other country willing to give him asylum), and you were Holder and Obama, what sort of deal would you try to strike with everybody's favorite secrets-leaker?"

He's not coming back to the US anytime soon

[jandrese]

At least not during this administration. Probably not during the next either, way too many entrenched political interests want to see him dead.

I can just see the return now.
Obama: Half of my cabinet wants to give you the Medal of Freedom, the other half wants you shot on the spot as a traitor. Maybe we should compromise and do both.

Nobel Peace Prize

[Anonymous Coward]

Maybe Obama can give him his, since he's not using it.

Re:What kind of idiot

[Scutter]

"But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it – away from the fog of the controversy."
  - Nancy Pelosi

No deal at all

[GlobalEcho]

This guy cost the government untold fortunes -- not only in dollars but in goodwill. He poisoned relationships with the international community, undermined the confidence of the citizenry in our institutions and ignored the democratic process. He should be in jail, no question.

Oh, whoops! I thought you were asking about Dick Cheney!

Lots of things

[ravenswood1000]

He deserves a full pardon, nobel prize, ignobal prize, several million dollars, some firm handshakes and "atta boys" and the job as CEO at Microsoft.

Re:Lots of things

[pixelpusher220]

and the job as CEO at Microsoft

You evil evil bastard. Have you no compassion in your soul?

Re:It might be an unpopular opinion...

[GameMaster]

Honestly, I voted for Obama (and would vote for him again simply because of how much crazier the GOP is) but I think Snowden should get Obama's Peace Prize.

The Presidency

[camperdave]

Make him the President, then he can see how much it costs to put up with people of his ilk. On the flip side, we'll find out the truth about the Kennedy assassination, Roswell, and Area 51.

Re:It might be an unpopular opinion...

[Colin Castro]

It all depends if you consider him a whistleblower or not. Whistleblowers are protected.

Re:Assassination

[Anonymous Coward]

The alternative could be assassination, and I don't mean by the USA. There are many groups active in Russia who would kill Snowden simply to make the USA look bad (if he dies, regardless of the circumstances, most people will assume he was killed by the US). Returning to the US would alleviate living under that kind of fear (assuming he recognizes it).

What groups?

Exactly! They're that damned good.

Re:It might be an unpopular opinion...

[lister king of smeg]

Honestly, I voted for Obama (and would vote for him again simply because of how much crazier the GOP is) but I think Snowden should get Obama's Peace Prize.

You do realize there are more then two parties right?