Letters: A Snowden pardon? Nah.

Re “Why Snowden deserves a pardon,” Opinion, Dec. 22

In making the case for a presidential pardon of Edward Snowden, professor Jonathan Turley reveals why a pardon will not be granted.

Gerald Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon, George H.W. Bush’s pardon of the Iran-Contra conspirators and the current administration’s failure to prosecute National Intelligence Director James Clapper for congressional perjury or its predecessors for war crimes, reflects that our nation has devolved into a two-tiered system of criminal justice entailing harsh penalties for ordinary citizens and near-impunity for our political and financial elites.

An administration that has condoned massive violations of our 4th Amendment rights by the National Security Agency and its well-paid private contractors will not pardon someone who exposed its wrongdoing.

Ernest A. Canning

Thousand Oaks

In case there is any doubt in anyone’s mind, according to the dictionary, Snowden is a traitor and should be dealt with accordingly.

For clarification, the dictionary defines a traitor as one who betrays trust, especially one who commits treason. It defines treason as the betrayal or breach of allegiance or of obedience toward one’s sovereign or government.

Granting Snowden a pardon would only encourage others to follow in his footsteps.

He needs to own his actions and be responsible for the consequences.

Lori Graham

Los Angeles

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