The latest on Edward Snowden:
He is a hero on Russian television programs, “which were almost certainly produced under Kremlin orders and have a powerful effect on public opinion.”
Ecuador is in a tizzy. They don’t want to be seen as knuckling under to the United States, but they also don’t want to be seen as a pawn of Julian Assange, who has championed Snowden’s case:
Mr. Assange’s role has raised hackles among Ecuadorean officials. In one of the internal correspondences, Ecuador’s ambassador to the U.S., Nathalie Cely, appeared to tell presidential spokesman Fernando Alvarado that communications should be handled better. “I suggest talking to Assange to better control the communications,” read a note addressed from Ms. Cely. “From outside…[Assange] appears to be ‘running the show.’ “
Snowden’s father is trying to broker a deal to bring him back to the United States:
In a letter to the Justice Department, Lonnie Snowden said through his attorney that his son wanted “ironclad assurances” he would not be held in jail before trial or subjected to a gag order, and would be allowed to choose where he would be tried on federal espionage charges….”We believe you share our objective of securing Edward’s voluntary return to the United States to face trial,” Washington attorney Bruce Fein wrote to Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. on behalf of Snowden’s father.
Stay tuned. I’m off to get my weekly dose of exercise.
