The clemency plea by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has been reportedly rejected by the US and officials have said that the former analyst should return to the country and face the espionage charges. Snowden, who has been granted temporary asylum in Russia, has been charged for leaking highly classified data about the US’ secret mass surveillance programmes carried by the NSA citing national security. According to Fox News, Obama’s senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer said that no such offers for clemency are being discussed adding that Snowden has violated the US law and he should return to the country and face justice. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein of California and Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan agreed with Pfeiffer’s move and said that clemency for Snowden would be ‘a terrible idea’. Snowden, in his plea letter that was released last week, claimed that he would testify before the US Congress about the NSA surveillance and might also help German officials investigate into the alleged US spying in Germany, but only when and if the US drops the said charges.
