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Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal Government should drop all charges against Edward Snowden.

USA119th CongressHRES-34| House 
| Updated: 1/13/2025
Marjorie Taylor Greene

Marjorie Taylor Greene

Republican Representative

Georgia

Cosponsors (1)
Thomas Massie (Republican)

Judiciary Committee, Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal Government should drop all charges against Edward Snowden. It highlights that Snowden's 2013 disclosures revealed the National Security Agency's (NSA) bulk collection of Americans' telephone records, a program that then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper had falsely denied under oath. The resolution posits that Snowden's actions were in the public interest, exposing government overreach and abuse of civil liberties. The resolution cites several findings supporting its stance, including a 2014 report by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board which found no evidence that the NSA program contributed to discovering terrorist plots and significantly threatened constitutional rights. Furthermore, it references rulings by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2015) and the Ninth Circuit (2020) that declared the bulk collection program unlawful and potentially unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment. These courts also found the program did not play a pivotal role in terrorism investigations. Ultimately, the resolution concludes that the NSA's bulk collection program was both illegal and unconstitutional . It asserts that Edward Snowden's disclosure of this program was in the public interest, and therefore, the Federal Government should cease all prosecution against him. The resolution emphasizes the need to protect whistleblowers who expose illegal and unconstitutional government actions.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HRES 116-1162
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal Government should drop all charges against Edward Snowden.
Jan 13, 2025
Submitted in House
Jan 13, 2025
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HRES 116-1162
    Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal Government should drop all charges against Edward Snowden.


  • January 13, 2025
    Submitted in House


  • January 13, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Armed Forces and National Security

Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationNational Security AgencyTelephone and wireless communication

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal Government should drop all charges against Edward Snowden.

USA119th CongressHRES-34| House 
| Updated: 1/13/2025
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal Government should drop all charges against Edward Snowden. It highlights that Snowden's 2013 disclosures revealed the National Security Agency's (NSA) bulk collection of Americans' telephone records, a program that then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper had falsely denied under oath. The resolution posits that Snowden's actions were in the public interest, exposing government overreach and abuse of civil liberties. The resolution cites several findings supporting its stance, including a 2014 report by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board which found no evidence that the NSA program contributed to discovering terrorist plots and significantly threatened constitutional rights. Furthermore, it references rulings by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2015) and the Ninth Circuit (2020) that declared the bulk collection program unlawful and potentially unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment. These courts also found the program did not play a pivotal role in terrorism investigations. Ultimately, the resolution concludes that the NSA's bulk collection program was both illegal and unconstitutional . It asserts that Edward Snowden's disclosure of this program was in the public interest, and therefore, the Federal Government should cease all prosecution against him. The resolution emphasizes the need to protect whistleblowers who expose illegal and unconstitutional government actions.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HRES 116-1162
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal Government should drop all charges against Edward Snowden.
Jan 13, 2025
Submitted in House
Jan 13, 2025
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HRES 116-1162
    Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal Government should drop all charges against Edward Snowden.


  • January 13, 2025
    Submitted in House


  • January 13, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Marjorie Taylor Greene

Marjorie Taylor Greene

Republican Representative

Georgia

Cosponsors (1)
Thomas Massie (Republican)

Judiciary Committee, Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee

Armed Forces and National Security

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationNational Security AgencyTelephone and wireless communication