Is Russia Thinking About Sending Snowden Back to US as a ‘Gift’ to Trump?

You should probably take this news with a grain of salt, but sources such as NBC have recently reported that Russia might be considering sending Edward Snowden back to the United States in an effort to improve relations with the new administration. The report hinges on an unnamed US official who analyzed certain intelligence data pieces, and since Trump did call Snowden a “traitor” openly during his campaign, it’s not that hard to figure out that Russia would indeed gain great favor with the new President if it would deliver the whistleblower back on US soil. Still, ACLU lawyer Ben Wizner recently spoke with NBC news and stated that “Team Snowden has received no such signals and has no new reason for concern,” while the spokesman for Russian President Vladimir described the rumors as “nonsense.”

The reports are further undermined by the fact that Snowden’s residence permit in Russia was extended for two more years, as stated by a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry. Furthermore, Edward actually commented on the news himself via Twitter, and he even used it as evidence that he never actually cooperated with Russia despite what many US critics have claimed. The man is currently seeking asylum in another country, but finding one willing to take him in that does not have an extradition treaty with the US will undoubtedly prove difficult.