Multiple human rights groups including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union have launched a campaign to urge US President Barack Obama to pardon former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.
Snowden, who lives in Moscow, appeared via video link on Wednesday at a New York press conference, where advocates from human rights groups called for a pardon.
The campaign started an online petition, at pardonsnowden.org, urging Obama to give him amnesty before his term ends in January.
“Edward Snowden’s case presents one for President Obama to use the presidential power of pardon proudly and unequivocally, in recognition of one of the most important acts of whistleblowing in modern history,” said Anthony Romero, the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
However, the chances of a pardon appear slim for Snowden as a similar initiative was launched in July, in which the White…