With the Obama administration coming to a close, many are becoming concerned for the safety of whistleblower Edward Snowden. He reminds a polarising figure in America, with some arguing that he is a traitor who must be brought to justice, and others saying that he is instead a hero who has done his part to liberate the American public from invisible mass surveillance.
Hero or traitor, however, it seems that Snowden's freedom hangs in the balance. He has not been hesitant to voice his opposition to President-elect Donald Trump, and responded on Twitter to concerns that his opposition to Trump would cost him his asylum by saying "I fear persecution less than a world in which we accept that opinions are dangerous." He has been granted asylum in Russia since releasing the documents which exposed widespread surveillance programs run by the NSA under the justification of Section 215 of the Patriot Act. Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have expressed a desire to see Snowden face some form of prosecution for his actions, with Clinton stating that Snowden should not be granted access back into America “without facing the music.” Trump has notably been even less forgiving, stating, “I think he’s a total traitor and I would deal with him harshly.”
With this in mind, 31 authors gathered together to pen a letter to President Obama asking for Obama to grant Snowden a pardon during his last few weeks in office. The letter argues that granting Snowden a pardon could be a key moment in the Obama administration's final legacy of protecting American and its constitution.
"By pardoning Snowden and permitting him to return free to the country he loves, your administration would be sending a message to the future — that America remains committed to democratic accountability, and that tomorrow’s innovations will not be allowed to bend or bow the Constitution, but will, instead, be made to conform to it, and to reinforce the rights that it bestows."
Authors of the letter include Irish author Colm Tóibín, whose novel Brooklyn was the basis for the acclaimed film, as well as Michael Cunningham (The Hours), Cheryl Strayed (Wild), Neil Gaiman (American Gods), and Joyce Carol Oates (Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?). The letter was written in part of the Pardon Snowden campaign, which can be found at @PardonSnowden on Twitter. For more about Snowden and the impact of widespread surveillance, watch the Vice News report and interview with Snowden below.