White House: Snowden should return to US to face charges

WASHINGTON – The White House says President Barack Obama continues to believe that former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden should return to the United States to face charges for leaking classified information.

Snowden’s supporters are pushing for Obama to pardon Snowden, and a new movie is coming out Friday about the case.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest on Monday reiterated Obama’s position that Snowden’s leaks “damaged the United States,” harmed national security and put Americans at risk.

Earnest says Snowden will be “treated fairly and consistent with the law” if he returns to the U.S.

As an NSA contractor, Snowden leaked classified details in 2013 of the U.S. government’s warrantless surveillance program before fleeing to Russia. He faces U.S. charges that could land him in prison for up to 30 years.

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