US Rights Group ACLU Calls on Obama to Pardon Edward Snowden

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Executive Director Anthony Romero said that a pardon of whistleblower Edward Snowden would be good for America.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — President Barack Obama should pardon National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower Edward Snowden and admit that the US government’s mass surveillance of Americans was wrong, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Executive Director Anthony Romero said on Wednesday.

"Edward Snowden acted patriotically, responsibly and with courage," Romero stated at a "Pardon Snowden" campaign luncheon in New York. "A pardon of Snowden would be good for America. It would be a powerful way for the President [Obama] to acknowledge that the government did wrong."

Romero pointed out that Snowden did not reveal to the public any of the classified US government documents he took.

"He chose to give those documents to established and respected media outlets that made their own editorial decisions on which documents can be revealed… and which ones will jeopardize national security," Romero noted.

Thanks to Snowden, Romero added, a public debate emerged on the US government mass surveillance practices and the courts have ruled on the legality of those government programs.

"We are in much stronger place because of Edward Snowden's courage," Romero said.

The "Pardon Snowden" campaigned was organized by several of the most prominent human rights organizations, including the ACLU and Amnesty International.