Covert Contact 106: A Pardon for Edward Snowden?

William Tucker returns after President Trump’s remarks about Edward Snowden revive speculation about a possible pardon. We revisit a case we have followed since the first disclosures, looking at how its political supporters have changed and why our assessment remains sharply critical.

We discuss the different constituencies that have rallied around Snowden, from privacy advocates to people whose objections extend to government more broadly. Those groups do not necessarily share the same motives. The conversation considers how changing partisan loyalties can reshape the debate, and how Russian messaging can exploit disagreements that already exist inside the United States.

A potential pardon also raises questions about what each government would gain. We consider whether there might be a diplomatic bargain behind the discussion, what value Snowden still has for Russia, and why a pardon would be different from a conventional spy exchange. These are open questions and possibilities we explore, rather than evidence that a deal is underway.

We then return to the substance of the disclosures. William argues that the damage extended well beyond the surveillance programs at the center of Snowden’s public defense, affecting intelligence operations and the people carrying them out. We explain why we find the whistleblower narrative unpersuasive and why Snowden’s route through Hong Kong to Russia matters to our assessment of his choices.

The closing discussion looks at the ethical responsibilities of people who enter intelligence work. We talk about thinking through conflicts before they arise, using reporting and support channels, and the mistrust that can keep employees from seeking help. Concern about privacy and government misconduct deserves serious attention. Our argument is that the means used to challenge misconduct, and the consequences for others, deserve equally serious scrutiny.