Thread by @danielmarans

New: Progressive Democrats have pushed for reforms based on Edward Snowden's leaks, but they have been relatively silent amid a campaign to get President Trump to pardon him. huffpost.com/entry/democrat… via @HuffPostPol

Very unlikely Trump will do it, but advocates think it is the best window they may ever have.

He said in August that he is considering it: reuters.com/article/us-usa…

https://twitter.com/ginsengaddict/status/1341483552064425986

Why this is a story: Progressive Dems have been at the forefront of efforts to end or curtail the mass surveillance programs Snowden uncovered.

But while 3 Republicans and Amash have called for a pardon, just @TulsiGabbard has on Dem side.

“Lawmakers should celebrate and protect the brave people who expose government abuse and corruption, regardless of who is in the White House when it happens,” says @evan_greer of @fightfortheftr.

I asked 19 of the 20* progressive signatories of a letter that helped prompt Section 215 of the Patriot Act to expire, as well as @rokhanna, @RepJayapal, Sens. Wyden, Leahy, Durbin and Heinrich about the pardon ...

... The 20th, @AOC, already told @jeremyscahill that she believes Snowden "should be considered" for a pardon. (I didn't count that as a full endorsement.)

The only member whose office responded to my inquiry were Rep. Gwen Moore and Sen. Ron Wyden. Neither supports a pardon.

Bernie, an early and persistent critic of mass surveillance, supports clemency -- ie, a plea deal for leniency -- over a pardon.

.@ggreenwald believes that Democrats are less supportive of Snowden's actions than other leakers, and less protective of him personally, because he leaked when Obama was president.

“This is a test of principle over partisanship, and Democrats are woefully failing it."

Civil liberties-minded Democrats "need to understand that the possibility of pushing back against the surveillance state is in large part a function of Snowden’s good deeds," @DavidSegalRI of @demandprogress

Here's the catch: I reached out to @ACLU and @EFF about whether they would also call on Democrats to join the pardon campaign. They declined comment.

One source in the civil liberties community tells me that there's a tactical belief that Dem appeals wouldn't help Snowden.

.@ggreenwald thinks, by contrast, that making the pardon calls bipartisan could help. “I think Trump does like the idea of being applauded across the spectrum."

Why the focus on Snowden, rather than say, Reality Winner?

Timing. Trump has signaled openness to Snowden, rather than Winner, who leaked during his presidency.

Either way, this is something of a philosophical question for Democrats about their take on politically-motivated leakers and whistleblowers. They didn't call for a Snowden pardon under Obama either, when liberal groups were more outspoken.