Elon Musk Asks If Snowden, Assange Should Be Pardoned, 80% Of Twitter Followers Say...

Former Central Intelligence Agency contractor Edward Snowden, a self-proclaimed whistleblower, as well as Wikileaks founder Julian Assange have been pursued by the U.S. government for years over accusations they leaked confidential and sensitive information.

What Happened: Elon Musk on Saturday ran a poll on whether Assange and Snowden should be pardoned. He said the survey was not an expression of an opinion, but was meant to honor a promise he had made earlier.

With five hours left, the poll has received almost three million votes. About 80% have voted in favor of pardon for both Snowden and Assange.

I am not expressing an opinion, but did promise to conduct this poll.

Should Assange and Snowden be pardoned?

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 4, 2022

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Snowden Responds: Quote-tweeting the poll, Snowden said he and Assange were charged under a law designed to prevent fair trials. This law was originally aimed at suppressing an old, anti-war movement, he noted.

“Defendants are forbidden from mounting a public interest defense, juries prohibited from hearing it,” he added.

“Whatever your politics, that’s an injustice.”

Snowden who took refuge in Russia has now been granted citizenship by the country, while Assange, an Australian journalist and publisher, is now lodged in a prison in London and has been fighting against his extradition to the U.S.

Read Next: Edward Snowden Says Government Has Made 'Telling' Truth Greater Crime Than 'Selling' It

Photo: Courtesy of shutterstock.