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ProSense

(116,464 posts)
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 05:43 PM Mar 2014

Jimmy Carter says he would consider pardoning Edward Snowden

Jimmy Carter says he would consider pardoning Edward Snowden

By Sean Sullivan

Former president Jimmy Carter (D) said Wednesday that he would consider pardoning Edward Snowden if he returned to the United States and was convicted and sentenced, but acknowledged he doesn't have enough information to judge how much damage the former National Security Agency contractor has done to U.S. national security interests.

<...>

"If he was found guilty and sentenced to death, I would certainly consider pardon," Carter said. But, Carter added that he doesn't have "the information President Obama has about what damage has been done to our security apparatus."

When asked whether he would pardon Snowden today as president, Carter replied, "No, because you can't pardon someone who has not been tried and convicted."

Carter made his remarks during an appearance at The Washington Post. He's been making the rounds to promote his new book, "A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence and Power." The discussion, which also focused heavily on women's issues and religion, was moderated by David Ignatius and Sally Quinn.

- more -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/03/26/jimmy-carter-says-he-would-consider-pardoning-edward-snowden


49 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Jimmy Carter says he would consider pardoning Edward Snowden (Original Post) ProSense Mar 2014 OP
"No, because you can't pardon someone who has not been tried and convicted." How bout Nixon? denverbill Mar 2014 #1
Remarkable that Carter is unaware that Ford pardoned Nixon who was never 'tried and convicted'... PoliticAverse Mar 2014 #2
That pardon was highly controversial and this isn't in the same league. ProSense Mar 2014 #6
Lots of us agree with Carter's view on when presidential pardons are appropriate struggle4progress Mar 2014 #27
President Carter Pardoned Draft dogers on his first day in office in Jan 21 1977. Agnosticsherbet Mar 2014 #3
Let's see ProSense Mar 2014 #7
They were not symbolic at all. former9thward Mar 2014 #15
You're right ProSense Mar 2014 #24
Thanks Agnosticsherbet Mar 2014 #35
They were not symbolic. They were charged with a real crime and would go to jail Agnosticsherbet Mar 2014 #33
See comment 24. n/t ProSense Mar 2014 #34
Actually Carter's pardon only covered those convicted. PoliticAverse Mar 2014 #30
"if he was found guilty and sentenced to death" JI7 Mar 2014 #4
At the very least ProSense Mar 2014 #12
LOL, we will soon see you posting hate stories about Carter I assume. n-t Logical Mar 2014 #5
LOL! ProSense Mar 2014 #8
You deal with Obama's sudden idea that the NSA needs changed. Wow, wonder why????????????????? LOL! Logical Mar 2014 #10
"Sudden"? ProSense Mar 2014 #13
You took an ass kicking on Snowden and Chained CPI. But keep doubling down! Fun to watch! nt Logical Mar 2014 #16
Calm down. ProSense Mar 2014 #17
I am sure you have a post to self promote? LOL! nt Logical Mar 2014 #21
Kick! n/t ProSense Mar 2014 #22
Humor seveneyes Mar 2014 #25
. ProSense Mar 2014 #26
When Grasping at straws.. "LOL, we will soon see you posting hate stories about Carter I assume" Cha Mar 2014 #38
Rut Roh! Carter is on the verge of getting... WhaTHellsgoingonhere Mar 2014 #9
Never ProSense Mar 2014 #18
Jimmy Carter.. "If he was found guilty and sentenced to death, I would Cha Mar 2014 #39
If Carter sounds anymore sympathetic toward Snowden, many DUers... WhaTHellsgoingonhere Mar 2014 #44
When asked whether he would pardon Snowden today as president, Carter replied, "No, because.. Cha Mar 2014 #48
What the fuck did Carter ever do to get lumped in with those assholes? nt msanthrope Mar 2014 #45
People, read the post..... Swede Atlanta Mar 2014 #11
Stop it. That makes way too much sense. Scuba Mar 2014 #14
Yeah, and I'm tired of people inflating and conflating like you just did. randome Mar 2014 #19
+1 Well said. cui bono Mar 2014 #31
It's so obvious some are not even reading the whole thing.. Cha Mar 2014 #40
Frisked at the airport? What does that have to do with Snowden? nt msanthrope Mar 2014 #46
K & R !!! WillyT Mar 2014 #20
One more attribute I like about President Carter seveneyes Mar 2014 #23
Yes he is.. "If he was found guilty and sentenced to death, I would certainly consider pardon, Cha Mar 2014 #41
Gee, he's talking about basic legal procedure! How dare he... n/t freshwest Mar 2014 #47
Yeah fresh.. it's so funny that they're not understanding that Carter is on the side of LAW Cha Mar 2014 #49
Jimmy has been rocking and rolling recently. PowerToThePeople Mar 2014 #28
There he goes under the bus treestar Mar 2014 #29
"If he was found guilty and sentenced to death, I would certainly consider pardon," Carter said. cui bono Mar 2014 #32
What difference does that make? Of course he said "if" ProSense Mar 2014 #36
Tell it to treestar. S/he's the one who said Carter "believes Ed is guilty as charged". cui bono Mar 2014 #37
He's still going under the bus, as he suggested treestar Mar 2014 #42
He would. CFLDem Mar 2014 #43

denverbill

(11,489 posts)
1. "No, because you can't pardon someone who has not been tried and convicted." How bout Nixon?
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 05:55 PM
Mar 2014

Nixon was pardoned, but never convicted.

PoliticAverse

(26,366 posts)
2. Remarkable that Carter is unaware that Ford pardoned Nixon who was never 'tried and convicted'...
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 05:56 PM
Mar 2014

considering that it is one of the reasons Carter defeated Ford in the Presidential election.

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
6. That pardon was highly controversial and this isn't in the same league.
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 06:09 PM
Mar 2014

"Remarkable that Carter is unaware that Ford pardoned Nixon who was never 'tried and convicted'..."

I mean, Nixon resigned in disgrace. The most Snowden can hope for is a plea bargain.

struggle4progress

(118,041 posts)
27. Lots of us agree with Carter's view on when presidential pardons are appropriate
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 07:30 PM
Mar 2014

Whether Ford's pardon would have survived court challenge is unknown, as that was never tested

Agnosticsherbet

(11,619 posts)
3. President Carter Pardoned Draft dogers on his first day in office in Jan 21 1977.
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 06:02 PM
Mar 2014

These people, for the most part, had not been tried or convicted.

He is getting quite old, perhaps he forgot.

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
7. Let's see
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 06:11 PM
Mar 2014

"Remarkable that Carter is unaware that Ford pardoned Nixon who was never 'tried and convicted'..."

...AWOL from a war that turned out to be based on a lie vs. revealing state secret to foreign governments...not the same.

Those pardons were symbolic years after the fact.

former9thward

(31,806 posts)
15. They were not symbolic at all.
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 06:18 PM
Mar 2014

All of them were facing charges in the U.S. Carter's pardon came within 10 years or less of the charges being filed. It wasn't that long.

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
24. You're right
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 06:47 PM
Mar 2014

"They were not symbolic at all."

They weren't symbolic. The pardons applied to certain persons who were convicted of draft-evasion.

President Carter, by Proclamation of January 21, 1977, pardoned certain persons who, during the Vietnam War era, violated the Military Selective Service Act by draft-evasion acts or omissions committed between August 4, 1964 and March 28, 1973. If you believe your conviction is covered by President Carter’s Proclamation and you can provide the required documentation from your criminal case that will enable us to verify that you are covered by the Proclamation, you may obtain an individual certificate of pardon evidencing the fact that this Pardon Proclamation applies to you. The certificate will be issued only if you were convicted of such an offense. If you were arrested for and/or charged with a Military Selective Service Act violation for an offense committed during the relevant time period, but your prosecution ended in some fashion other than conviction (such as dismissal of charges or an acquittal), you are not eligible to seek a certificate of pardon.

Furthermore, President Carter’s Pardon Proclamation applies only to violations of the Military Selective Service Act by civilians. If you were a member of the armed forces during the relevant period, and you were convicted for a violation of military law, your offense does not qualify for treatment under the Proclamation. A person wishing to seek a presidential pardon for a military conviction may apply for a pardon from the current President under the regular pardon procedure. In addition, the Carter Proclamation does not apply to Military Selective Service Act violations involving force or violence, or to offenses committed by agents, officers, or employees of the Military Selective Service system in connection with duties or responsibilities arising out of their employment. Consequently, if you were employed by the Military Selective Service system and your offense involved your official duties, or if your offense involved force or violence, your conviction was not pardoned by the Proclamation.

- more -

http://www.justice.gov/pardon/carter_instructions.htm

Agnosticsherbet

(11,619 posts)
33. They were not symbolic. They were charged with a real crime and would go to jail
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 08:15 PM
Mar 2014

if they returned. They were forced to live outside the US (many in Canada). They could not come home and be with their families. Many of them spent a decade and a half there.

JI7

(89,182 posts)
4. "if he was found guilty and sentenced to death"
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 06:04 PM
Mar 2014

so most likely carter would not pardon because even if found guilty they aren't going to seek the death penalty .

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
12. At the very least
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 06:15 PM
Mar 2014

"so most likely carter would not pardon because even if found guilty they aren't going to seek the death penalty . "

...Carter seems to be advocating that before that can happen, Snowden would have to return and face the consequences.

 

Logical

(22,457 posts)
10. You deal with Obama's sudden idea that the NSA needs changed. Wow, wonder why????????????????? LOL!
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 06:13 PM
Mar 2014

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
13. "Sudden"?
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 06:17 PM
Mar 2014

"You deal with Obama's sudden idea that the NSA needs changed. Wow, wonder why????????????????? LOL!"

How does that impact Snowden's chances of being pardoned?

Seems you're having trouble coming to grips that the answer is: fat chance.

LOL!






ProSense

(116,464 posts)
17. Calm down.
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 06:21 PM
Mar 2014

"You took an ass kicking on Snowden and Chained CPI. But keep doubling down! Fun to watch!"

Snowden is still stuck in Russia and desperate for a pardon.



Cha

(295,929 posts)
38. When Grasping at straws.. "LOL, we will soon see you posting hate stories about Carter I assume"
Thu Mar 27, 2014, 02:11 AM
Mar 2014

IOW.. when is it better just to say nothing instead of getting out the shovel?!

Cha

(295,929 posts)
39. Jimmy Carter.. "If he was found guilty and sentenced to death, I would
Thu Mar 27, 2014, 02:15 AM
Mar 2014
certainly consider pardon," Carter said. But, Carter added that he doesn't have "the information President Obama has about what damage has been done to our security apparatus."

nader is a republicon operative asshole.. no need to lump Jimmy Carter in with him.
 

WhaTHellsgoingonhere

(5,252 posts)
44. If Carter sounds anymore sympathetic toward Snowden, many DUers...
Thu Mar 27, 2014, 03:01 PM
Mar 2014

could bury him, especially if he's showing up Obama.

Cha

(295,929 posts)
48. When asked whether he would pardon Snowden today as president, Carter replied, "No, because..
Thu Mar 27, 2014, 09:08 PM
Mar 2014
you can't pardon someone who has not been tried and convicted."

Jimmy's Great!
 

Swede Atlanta

(3,596 posts)
11. People, read the post.....
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 06:13 PM
Mar 2014

Carter says "if he was found guilty" he would consider a pardon.

So all the posts about whether you can pardon someone before a trial, etc. are simply lazy posting. READ people, READ.

I applaud him for his honesty and his understanding. I sincerely believe Carter no longer thinks in political terms but in human terms. Yes Snowden exposed a lot of what our government was doing that our enemies and friends to read. But he was exposing a horrific attack on the Constitution of this country and the 4th Amendment protection against unlawful searches and seizures.

I am so tired of apologists on this site who think it is just fine to be frisked at the airport, have all your e-mails, telephone calls, texts, etc. amassed into a database, etc. and claim to be progressives.

I am all for giving the government the power to do what they need to do but this isn't absolute. This needs to be balanced with protections for constitutional rights, etc.

 

randome

(34,845 posts)
19. Yeah, and I'm tired of people inflating and conflating like you just did.
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 06:23 PM
Mar 2014

What does frisking at an airport have to do with the NSA? Where do you get the idea that all your emails and telephone calls are amassed into a database? Snowden certainly didn't claim that.

It's one thing to disagree with keeping copies of phone record metadata. I don't agree that it's a problem but I certainly see the point.

But all these other claims are nonsense unless there is evidence to support those kind of fears.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Everything is a satellite to some other thing.[/center][/font][hr]

Cha

(295,929 posts)
41. Yes he is.. "If he was found guilty and sentenced to death, I would certainly consider pardon,
Thu Mar 27, 2014, 04:21 AM
Mar 2014
Carter said. But, Carter added that he doesn't have "the information President Obama has about what damage has been done to our security apparatus."

"When asked whether he would pardon Snowden today as president, Carter replied, "No, because you can't pardon someone who has not been tried and convicted."

Cha

(295,929 posts)
49. Yeah fresh.. it's so funny that they're not understanding that Carter is on the side of LAW
Thu Mar 27, 2014, 09:18 PM
Mar 2014

just like President Obama. Oooooops.

 

PowerToThePeople

(9,610 posts)
28. Jimmy has been rocking and rolling recently.
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 07:32 PM
Mar 2014

Is he running for office again? He has only served one term.

Carter 2016!!!

cui bono

(19,926 posts)
32. "If he was found guilty and sentenced to death, I would certainly consider pardon," Carter said.
Wed Mar 26, 2014, 07:46 PM
Mar 2014
IF... he was found guilty.

cui bono

(19,926 posts)
37. Tell it to treestar. S/he's the one who said Carter "believes Ed is guilty as charged".
Thu Mar 27, 2014, 01:47 AM
Mar 2014

I actually agree with you.

When a post is a reply to another post context means something.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
42. He's still going under the bus, as he suggested
Thu Mar 27, 2014, 08:37 AM
Mar 2014

that Ed would have to come back and be tried and then found guilty. Only then would he consider a pardon.

Everyone knows Ed should never have to even face those charges, let alone the possibility he could be found guilty and thus require a pardon!

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