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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJimmy 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.
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"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
denverbill
(11,489 posts)Nixon was pardoned, but never convicted.
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)considering that it is one of the reasons Carter defeated Ford in the Presidential election.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"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)Whether Ford's pardon would have survived court challenge is unknown, as that was never tested
Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)These people, for the most part, had not been tried or convicted.
He is getting quite old, perhaps he forgot.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"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)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)"They were not symbolic at all."
They weren't symbolic. The pardons applied to certain persons who were convicted of draft-evasion.
Furthermore, President Carters 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.
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http://www.justice.gov/pardon/carter_instructions.htm
Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)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.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)JI7
(89,182 posts)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)"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)Dream on.
Alternative: Wake up and deal with Carter's comments.
Logical
(22,457 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)"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!
Logical
(22,457 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)"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.
Logical
(22,457 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)A pleasure to see.
Cha
(295,929 posts)IOW.. when is it better just to say nothing instead of getting out the shovel?!
WhaTHellsgoingonhere
(5,252 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)Jimmy Carter is awesome.
Nader sucks. http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024629502
Cha
(295,929 posts)nader is a republicon operative asshole.. no need to lump Jimmy Carter in with him.
WhaTHellsgoingonhere
(5,252 posts)could bury him, especially if he's showing up Obama.
Cha
(295,929 posts)Jimmy's Great!
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Swede Atlanta
(3,596 posts)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.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)randome
(34,845 posts)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]
cui bono
(19,926 posts)Cha
(295,929 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)WillyT
(72,631 posts)seveneyes
(4,631 posts)He is a wise man.
Cha
(295,929 posts)"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."
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Cha
(295,929 posts)just like President Obama. Oooooops.
PowerToThePeople
(9,610 posts)Is he running for office again? He has only served one term.
Carter 2016!!!
treestar
(82,383 posts)This means he believes Ed is guilty as charged.
cui bono
(19,926 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)There hasn't been a trial.
cui bono
(19,926 posts)I actually agree with you.
When a post is a reply to another post context means something.
treestar
(82,383 posts)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!