Washington Post Media Columnist: Pardon 'Brave' Snowden

Margaret Sullivan, the influential media columnist for The Washington Post says fugitive National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden "should be granted a full pardon by President Barack Obama."

"Snowden did an important — and brave — service for the American public and, in fact, the world, when he made it possible for news organizations to reveal widespread government surveillance of citizens," Sullivan writes in a column published Wednesday.

"Snowden made it possible for journalists to provide a historic public service to his country. And his country ought to show him some appreciation, not threaten him with imprisonment or keep him in exile."

Snowden, who is now living in Russia and is the subject of a new Oliver Stone docudrama, fled the United States after leaking documents that showed the wide extent to which the government monitors the phones and email accounts of Americans.

Sullivan's recommendation follows a column by The Post's editorial board recommending that Snowden not receive a pardon.

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