Home
White House: Obama does not think Snowden performed ‘public service’
Former Attorney General Eric Holder had acknowledged Snowden’s role in public debate about government surveillance.
By
Nick Gass
5/31/16, 8:29 PM CET
Updated 5/31/16, 8:38 PM CET
Contrary to the opinion of his former Attorney General Eric Holder, President Barack Obama does not think that ex-NSA contractor Edward Snowden rendered a “public service” by leaking thousands of classified national security documents in 2013.
“The president has had the opportunity to speak on this a number of times, and I think a careful review of his public comments would indicate that he does not,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Tuesday, a day after Holder appeared on a podcast and acknowledged the role that Snowden’s disclosures played in fostering a public debate about the role of government in surveillance.
At the same time, Earnest reminded reporters that Holder himself couched his opinion of Snowden while remarking that he should return to the United States from hiding in Russia and face the severe criminal charges against him.
“He’s broken the law in my view. He needs to get lawyers, come on back, and decide, see what he wants to do: Go to trial, try to cut a deal. I think there has to be a consequence for what he has done,” Holder said during Monday’s episode of “The Axe Files” with former top Obama aide David Axelrod. “I think in deciding what an appropriate sentence should be, I think a judge could take into account the usefulness of having had that national debate.”
After reciting that quote, Earnest said that Holder is articulating “the view of the administration, which is specifically that Mr. Snowden has been charged with serious crimes, he should return to the United States, he should be afforded due process and that’s essentially how the situation should be handled, but Mr. Snowden has not done so.”
http://www.politico.eu/article/white-house-barack-obama-does-not-think-edward-snowden-performed-public-service-nsa-privacy-surveillance/
» Today's newspapers are interested in Al-Sudani's announcement that the population of Iraq exceeds 45
» International Development Bank: Today's incident was an extortion attempt that did not affect our wo
» thirty-sixth session, chaired by the Minister of Planning
» Closed meeting of the Parliamentary Finance Committee to discuss seven files
» The demographic boom in Iraq: an economic opportunity or a social burden?
» Al-Sudani confirms to Russian delegation Iraq's desire to establish a mechanism that brings mutual b
» Parliament holds its session headed by Al-Mashhadani and attended by 168 MPs
» The Iraqi government deducts 1% of the salaries of employees and retirees to donate to Gaza and Leba
» Iran announces its commitment to continuing gas exports to Iraq
» Iraq, Russia discuss energy cooperation
» British Home Secretary to visit Iraq tomorrow
» The next parliament will have 450 members.. Officially, Al-Sudani announces that the population of I
» US Ambassador Warns of 'Frightening Actions': Iraq Does Not Want to Be Drawn into Regional Conflict
» Planning: The announced census results are not preliminary and the number will increase
» Election “hype” begins early.. Al-Maliki insists on holding it and Al-Sudani prepares
» “No more delays”.. Parliament changes the mechanism of holding sessions: “Controversial” laws are re
» Al-Mashhadani to the heads of the blocs: I prefer to vote on the general amnesty law before anything
» Iraq ranks 8th in the Arab world in achieving work-life balance in 2025
» Labor announces issuance of more than a quarter of a million national cards for social protection be
» Iraqi-Chinese research on accelerating combined cycle power projects
» Al-Maliki praises the decision of the International Criminal Court and demands the resolution of the
» Al-Mashhadani calls for voting on the general amnesty law for the “oppressed” before other laws
» Yazan Mishaan Al-Habouri revolts against his "leak": There are those who obstruct the government's e
» US Ambassador: Ending the presence of the international coalition in Iraq is being implemented and w
» Al-Mashhadani directs to raise the suspended laws to the Presidency of the House of Representatives
» "His general situation is unbearable" .. Parliamentarian: Political consensus to keep Iraq away from
» Al-Sudani agrees to launch the “For Her” initiative to support Iraqi women
» Development Bank condemns extortion attempts: It will not affect our workflow
» Iraq-China oil-for-reconstruction deal faltering: A geopolitical shift in the Middle East
» Planning reveals the next step of the census: We will visit these families
» Parliamentary Finance Committee calls on the government to expedite sending the budget tables
» OPEC+ may extend oil cuts at its meeting next Sunday
» Parliamentary Integrity Committee discusses with the Director of Central Oil the file of contracts a
» Government notice regarding the legal status of foreign workers
» House of Representatives holds "important" session today.. Expectations of extending the legislative
» Slight rise in dollar prices against the dinar in Iraqi stock exchanges
» Baghdad "softens" and Kurdistan oil prepares to continue its global journey
» "For 5 million dinars or in installments" .. Iraqi electric cars soon on the streets
» Where did the Intelligence Bill get to in the House of Representatives?
» "Contract Suspicions Series"... What are the loopholes in the Korean air defense system contract in
» MP reveals latest developments in the formation of the new Kurdistan government
» Personal status: imposing a vision or turning Iraq into a copy similar to the Iranian religious regi
» Oral question to the governor.. Parliamentary movement regarding the “Basra, the Economic Capital of
» MM&C 11/25/24 Parliamentarian: We need to extend the legislative chapter to 8 sessions and the bud
» Al-Alaq: The monetary situation in Iraq is excellent and our reserves support the stability of the e
» utube 11/23/24 MM&C Reporting-Expectations are High-IMF-Flexible Exchange Rate Regime-Pr
» utube 11/25/24 MM&C MM&C Iraq News-CBI Building Final Touches-Oil Exports-Development Road-Turkey-B
» Parliamentary movement to include the salary scale in the next session
» Parliamentary Finance Committee reveals the budget paragraphs included in the amendment
» Al-Maliki calls on the Bar Association to hold accountable members who violate professional conduct
» Politician: The security agreement with America has many aspects
» Kurdistan Planning: More than 6 million people live in the region, the oldest of them is 126 years o
» Al-Alaq: Arab consensus on the role of central bank programs in addressing challenges
» Economics saves from political drowning
» Agriculture calls for strict ban on import of "industrial fats" and warns of health risks
» Iraq is the fourth largest oil exporter to China
» Railways continue to maintain a number of its lines to ensure the smooth running of trains
» Parliament resumes its sessions tomorrow.. and these are the most important amendments in the budget
» Bitcoin Fails to Continue Rising as It Approaches $100,000
» Minister of Planning: There will be accurate figures for the population of each governorate
» Popular Mobilization Law is ready for voting
» Mechanisms for accepting people with disabilities into postgraduate studies
» Government coordination to create five thousand jobs
» Transport: Next month, a meeting with the international organization to resolve the European ban
» Census is a path to digital government
» Calls to facilitate loans and reduce interest rates for the private sector
» The launch of the third and final phase of the "population census"
» Al-Sudani: We have accomplished a step that is the most prominent in the framework of planning, deve
» Justice discusses modern mechanisms to develop investment in real estate and minors’ money
» Dubai to host Arabplast exhibition next month
» Al-Tamimi: Integrity plays a major role in establishing the foundations of laws that will uphold jus
» Reaching the most important people involved in the "theft of the century" in Diyala
» Transportation: Completion of excavation works and connection of the immersed tunnel manufacturing b
» Between internal and regional challenges... Formation of the Kurdistan government on a "slow fire" a
» Kurdistan Region Presidency: We will issue a regional order to determine the first session of parlia
» The Minister of Foreign Affairs announces the convening of the Ambassadors Conference tomorrow, Mond
» Al-Sudani: Iraq must always be at the forefront
» Al-Mashhadani: We support the Foreign Ministry in confronting any external interference that affects
» Al-Sudani chairs meeting with Oliver Wyman delegation
» Half a million beggars in Iraq.. 90% of them receive welfare salaries
» Sudanese announces preliminary results of the general population and housing census in detail
» The centenary of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.. A journey of challenges and achievements
» Prime Minister's Advisor Announces Assignment of Two International Companies to Study Iraqi Banking
» Agriculture: Integrated Support Project Provides 1,333 Job Opportunities
» The Media and Education Commission discuss introducing advanced curricula related to artificial inte
» Al-Mashhadani’s First Test: Discussing Israeli Threats and Avoiding Controversial Laws
» By name.. A parliamentary bloc reveals that five ministers will be questioned at the end of the legi
» The financial budget is subject to political and economic amendments in the next parliamentary sessi
» Will the government's efforts succeed in ending the electricity crisis in Iraq?
» Baghdad Airport Customs Increased to 400% After Implementing Automation
» EU: Integrated Support Project in Iraq Creates Jobs in Agriculture and Youth
» Al-Sudani attends the centenary ceremony of the establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
» Al-Mashhadani: We seek to keep foreign policy away from alignments that harm Iraq’s unity and sovere
» The Iraqi government is working to develop a competitive banking system and support the private sect
» Al-Alaq: Arab consensus on the role of central bank programs in addressing challenges
» Regional markets rise in first session of the week
» Kurdistan Region Presidency: We will issue an order to set the first session of the regional parliam
» Political differences hinder oil and gas law legislation