Washington, D.C. — In the last hours of President Trump’s time in office, he issued dozens of pardons and commutations. Among those pardoned were former White House Chief of Staff Steve Bannon and even rapper Lil Wayne.
Notably, neither Edward Snowden nor Julian Assange made the cut.
Many speculated that one or both of them would receive a pardon from Trump in his final days, but those rumors are now put to rest.
Privacy and First Amendment activists flooded the White House with requests, asking Trump to issue these pardons. Snowden, a whistleblower who exposed the illegal mass surveillance of Americans, faces charges from the United States government and is still living in exile in Russia.
Assange is also facing charges from the United States relating to his role in publishing classified documents showing DNC misconduct in the 2016 Presidential election. Assange is currently in British custody for unrelated charges.
The United Kingdom recently denied the United States’ extradition request for Assange, putting his trial in the United States on indefinite hold.
The main objectors to pardoning Snowden and Assange were members of the Intelligence Community (CIA, FBI, NSA, etc.) and Deep State apologists such as Rep. Liz Cheney.
This raises questions as to why President Trump backed down away from issuing those pardons. Had he done so, it would have been a strong message to those in the so-called Deep State, who have actively worked against President Trump throughout his term.
Some people are suggesting that President Trump did not want to rock the boat with Republican Senators who are opposed to the pardons. These same Senate Republicans may hold the fate of President Trump’s political future in their hands with a future impeachment vote.
In an attempt to stay in the good graces of these Republican Senators, Trump may have folded.
Regardless of the reasoning, President Trump sided with the Deep State and their allies with his inaction.
A pardon from President Trump was likely Snowden’s best chance at being able to return to the United States, at least for the next four years.
President Biden is unlikely to address the issue since Snowden’s reveals came during the Obama administration.
With that, Snowden’s fate remains in limbo, as he lives in exile in Moscow.
Snowden’s response to the end of President Trump’s time in office was short and to the point, simply stating, “I would rather be without a state than without a voice.”
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