Snowden: Petraeus Disclosed Secrets, Faced No Jail due to 'Two-Tiered System'
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who shared classified information about the US government’s surveillance programs with journalists, criticized the US justice system for how it treats “well-connected” individuals.
Snowden cited the case of retired Gen. David Petraeus, who is being considered by President-elect Donald Trump for the position of secretary of State, as a prime example.
“We have a two-tiered system of justice in the United States, where people who are either well-connected to government or they have access to an incredible amount of resources get very light punishments,” said Snowden on Sunday, the Hill reported.
“Perhaps the best-known case in recent history here is Gen. Petraeus — who shared information that was far more highly classified than I ever did with journalists,” he said.
Petraeus pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge in 2015 for the mishandling of classified information.
“And he shared this information not with the public for their benefit, but with his biographer and lover for personal benefit — conversations that had information, detailed information, about military special-access programs, that’s classified above top secret, conversations with the president and so on,” he added.
“He never spent a single day in jail, despite the type of classified information he exposed,” Snowden said.
Snowden has sought asylum in Moscow, as he faces felony charges in America for espionage.
