Tulsi Gabbard Urges Donald Trump to Pardon Edward Snowden and Julian Assange
Darragh Roche / Newsweek
(November 26, 2020) — Representative Tulsi Gabbard has called on President Donald Trump to pardon National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower Edward Snowden and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange before he’s set to leave office on January 20, 2021.
The Hawaii Democrat took to Twitter to highlight her own video message from October 6 and suggested that Trump use his presidential pardon power to grant clemency to the men, both of whom have been charged under the Espionage Act of 1917.
The president’s recent pardon of former national security adviser and retired Lt. General Michael Flynn appears to have prompted Gabbard’s comments. Flynn pled guilty to lying to the FBI in 2017 but later sought to withdraw that plea.
“Since you’re giving pardons to people, please consider pardoning those who, at great personal sacrifice, exposed the deception and criminality of those in the deep state,” Gabbard tweeted on Thursday, tagging Trump.
She shared another tweet of hers from more than a month ago, which featured a video of her discussing Assange and Snowden.
“Brave whistleblowers exposing lies & illegal actions in our government must be protected,” the tweet said.
“Join me and urge Congress: Pass my bipartisan legislation (HRes1162, HRes1175, HR8452) calling for charges against @snowden & Assange to be dropped & to reform the Espionage Act.”
Posted in accordance with Title 17, Section 107, US Code, for noncommercial, educational purposes.
