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| NSA leaks: Father urges Snowden not to commit 'treason' | NSA leaks: Father urges Snowden not to commit 'treason' |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The father of Edward Snowden, the ex-CIA worker who leaked top secret information on US surveillance programmes, has issued a public plea urging his son to not commit "treason". | The father of Edward Snowden, the ex-CIA worker who leaked top secret information on US surveillance programmes, has issued a public plea urging his son to not commit "treason". |
| "I hope, I pray and ask that you will not release any secrets that could constitute treason," Lon Snowden said in an interview with Fox News. | |
| He also asked his son, currently in hiding in Hong Kong, to "face justice". | He also asked his son, currently in hiding in Hong Kong, to "face justice". |
| But Edward Snowden has vowed to fight any extradition attempts by the US. | But Edward Snowden has vowed to fight any extradition attempts by the US. |
| On Monday, the former intelligence contractor said US officials had destroyed any possibility of a fair trial by labelling him a traitor. | On Monday, the former intelligence contractor said US officials had destroyed any possibility of a fair trial by labelling him a traitor. |
| "The US government, just as they did with other whistleblowers, immediately and predictably destroyed any possibility of a fair trial at home, openly declaring me guilty of treason," wrote the 29-year-old in a live online chat. | "The US government, just as they did with other whistleblowers, immediately and predictably destroyed any possibility of a fair trial at home, openly declaring me guilty of treason," wrote the 29-year-old in a live online chat. |
| Former Vice-President Dick Cheney has denounced Mr Snowden as a "traitor", while two influential members of the US Congress have accused the leaker of betraying his country. | |
| 'Man of principle' | 'Man of principle' |
| Speaking to Fox News, Lon Snowden said he believed his son was a "man of principle". | Speaking to Fox News, Lon Snowden said he believed his son was a "man of principle". |
| "I know you're your own man and you're going to do what you feel you have to do," he said in a statement addressed to his son. | |
| "I don't know what you've seen but I just ask that you measure what you're going to do and not release any more information." | "I don't know what you've seen but I just ask that you measure what you're going to do and not release any more information." |
| Lon Snowden told the US broadcaster he was "saddened" by his son's decision to leak the information, but also criticised the US government's alleged surveillance programme. | Lon Snowden told the US broadcaster he was "saddened" by his son's decision to leak the information, but also criticised the US government's alleged surveillance programme. |
| "I don't want them reading my email. If we say, 'We're going to have to sacrifice our freedoms because of the threat of terrorism', well, the terrorists have already won," he said. | "I don't want them reading my email. If we say, 'We're going to have to sacrifice our freedoms because of the threat of terrorism', well, the terrorists have already won," he said. |
| But he added that he would prefer to see his son face time in prison than remain in Hong Kong. | But he added that he would prefer to see his son face time in prison than remain in Hong Kong. |
| "I would like to see Ed come home and face this," he said. | "I would like to see Ed come home and face this," he said. |
| "I have faith in our justice system: I would rather my son be a prisoner in the US than a free man in a country that [does] not have the kind of freedoms that we have." | "I have faith in our justice system: I would rather my son be a prisoner in the US than a free man in a country that [does] not have the kind of freedoms that we have." |
| Edward Snowden fled to Hong Kong shortly before the scandal broke. His leaks revealed that US agencies had systematically gathered vast amounts of phone and web data. | Edward Snowden fled to Hong Kong shortly before the scandal broke. His leaks revealed that US agencies had systematically gathered vast amounts of phone and web data. |
| He also alleged that US intelligence had been hacking into Chinese computer networks. | He also alleged that US intelligence had been hacking into Chinese computer networks. |
| The contractor said he had decided to speak out after observing "a continuing litany of lies" from senior officials to Congress. | The contractor said he had decided to speak out after observing "a continuing litany of lies" from senior officials to Congress. |
| "The US government is not going to be able to cover this up by jailing or murdering me," he said. | "The US government is not going to be able to cover this up by jailing or murdering me," he said. |
| Although the leaks have angered the US government, Mr Snowden has so far not been charged or faced an extradition request. | Although the leaks have angered the US government, Mr Snowden has so far not been charged or faced an extradition request. |