US

Eric Holder Hints That DOJ Is Now Willing To Cut A Deal With Edward Snowden

Getty Images

Christian Datoc Senior White House Correspondent
Font Size:

In a Monday interview, former Attorney General Eric Holder said that the “possibility exists” that the Justice Department is now willing to cut a deal with Edward Snowden that would allow him to return to the United States on his terms.

“We are in a different place as a result of the Snowden disclosures,” Holder told Yahoo News. “His actions spurred a necessary debate… I certainly think there could be a basis for a resolution that everybody could ultimately be satisfied with. I think the possibility exists.”

Though Holder declined to comment on the possible specifics of the deal, his comments coincide with the news that a high-ranking intelligence official has recently “floated the idea that the government might be open to a plea bargain.” According to Yahoo’s sources, “Robert Litt, the chief counsel to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper,” outlined a deal, “in which Snowden returns to the United States, pleads guilty to one felony count and receives a prison sentence of three to five years in exchange for full cooperation with the government.”

Additionally, Ben Wizner — Snowden’s attorney — called Holder’s Monday comments a “significant” breakthrough in the negotiations. “The former attorney general’s recognition that Snowden’s actions led to meaningful changes is welcome… I don’t think we’ve seen this kind of respect from anybody at the cabinet level before.”

[h/t: Yahoo]

Follow Datoc on Twitter and Facebook