Following FBI Director James Comey’s recommendation that Hillary Clinton not be charged for the mishandling of classified information, whistleblower Edward Snowden reacted with a simple yet thought-provoking tweet. Edward Snowden sought asylum in Russia after being charged with two counts of violating the Espionage Act of 1917 and theft of government property for leaking classified information to the public about global surveillance programs run by the NSA. Hillary Clinton has called Snowden “extremely careless” when it came to the handling of classified information and has pressed for the whistleblower to be extradited back to the United States for trial. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Edward Snowden was watching closely as Hillary Clinton was deemed “careless with classified information” by the FBI but subsequently faced no charges.
Snowden took to his official Twitter account to comment on the FBI’s recommendations for Clinton to not be charged following the careless storage of classified information. In fact, it seems that Snowden had no words for the decision and instead decided to make his sentiments known with a single emoji.
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) July 5, 2016
The whistleblower posted a link to a Wall Street Journal article that featured James Comey’s statement that “no charges are appropriate” along with the “thinking face” emoji.
This isn’t the first time that Snowden has addressed the Hillary Clinton email scandal. Back in June, Snowden posted a tweet noting that you could be “exiled” if you break classification rules for “the public’s benefit” but pointed out that if you break those rules for “personal benefit” you get to be president.
Break classification rules for the public’s benefit, and you could be exiled.
Do it for personal benefit, and you could be President.
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) June 1, 2016
The tweet was a jab at Hillary Clinton who was being investigated for the mishandling of classified material while also remaining the frontrunner in the Democrat presidential race. Though Clinton’s momentum seemed unchanged despite the FBI investigation, Snowden was exiled to Russia for fear of an unfair trial in the United States. Following the leaking of the classified information regarding the NSA surveillance programs, Snowden fled to Russia where he was granted asylum. Snowden has remained in Russia unable to leave as the FBI has charged him with violating the Espionage Act of 1917 and theft of government property for the leak.
Though Snowden has been charged, FBI Director James Comey has revealed that despite finding that classified material handling laws were violated, Clinton should not be charged as there was no “intent.”
@Snowden @WSJPolitics pic.twitter.com/KZPw0hqaHm
— tommy whitehead (@grundlesausage) July 6, 2016
Hillary Clinton has also spoken out about the charges against Snowden with the presidential candidate, noting that Snowden needs to come back to the United States to face the music as he “broke the laws of the United States,” according to the Guardian .
“He broke the laws of the United States. He could have been a whistleblower, he could have gotten all the protections of a whistleblower. He chose not to do that. He stole very important information that has fallen into the wrong hands so I think he should not be brought home without facing the music.”
RT notes that Clinton has blasted Snowden for being “careless” with confidential material and that he should be charged accordingly. However, with the FBI now noting that Clinton herself was “careless” with confidential material, it is unclear if Clinton’s stance on the Snowden case has changed.
What do you think about Edward Snowden’s response to the FBI’s decision not to recommend prosecution of Hillary Clinton for crimes related to the improper handling of classified information?
[Image by Juliet Linderman/AP Photo]
