U.S Attorney General letter to Russia re Edward Snowden

Department Of Justice.                   Office of the Attorney General
                                                                  Washington D.C  20530
                                                                            July 23, 2013


His Excellency Alexander Vladimirovich Konovalov
Minister of Justice
The Russian Federation
14 Zhitnaya Ulitsa
Moscow 119991
Russia


Dear Mr. Minister:
              I am writing concerning Title the current status of Edward Snowden. As you know, Mr.
Snowden has been charged with theft of government property(in violation of Title 18, U.ited
States Code, Section
641), unauthorised communication of national defence information(in
violation of Title 18, United Stas Code,Section 793(d),and willful communication of
classified communications intelligence information to an unauthorised person(in violation of
Title 18, United States Code, Section 798(a)(3)). According to news reports and information
provided by your government, Mr. Snowden is currently in the transit zone of the Sheremetyevo
Airport.

We understand from press reports and prior conventions between our governments that
Mr. Snowden believes that he is unable to travel out of Russia and must therefore take steps to
legalize his status. This is not accurate; he is able to travel. Despite the revocation of his
passport on June 22,2013, Mr. Snowden remains a U.S citizen. He is eligible for a limited
validity passport good for direct return to the United States. The United States is willing to
immediately issue such a passport to Mr. Snowden.

We also understand from press reports that Mr. Snowden has filed papers seeking
temporary asylum in Russia on the grounds that if he returned to the United States, he
would be tortured and would face the death penalty. These claims are entirely without
merit. Nonetheless, I can report that the United States is prepared to provide the Russian
government the following assurances regarding the treatment Mr. Snowden would face upon
return to the United States :

First , the United States would not seek the death penalty for Mr. Snowden should he
return to the United States. The charges he faces do not carry that possibility, and the United
States would not seek the death penalty even if Mr. Snowden were charged with additional,
death penalty-eligible crimes.

Second, Mr. Snowden will not be tortured. Torture is unlawful in the United States. If
he returns to the United States, Mr. Snowden would promptly be brought before a civilian court
convened under Article 111 of the United States Constitution and supervised by a United States
District Judge. Mr. Snowden would receive all the protections that United States law provides to
persons charged with Federal Criminal Offenses in Article 111 courts. In particular, Mr. Snowden
would be appointed ( or, if he so chose, could retain) counsel. Any questioning of Mr. Snowden
could be conducted only with his consent: his participation would be entirely voluntary,and his
legal counsel would be present should he so wish it. Mr . Snowden would have the right ti a public
jury trial; he would have the right to testify if he wished to do so;and the United States would
have to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to a unanimous jury. If convicted, Mr.
Snowden would have the right to appeal to the United States Court of Appeals.

We believe that these assurances eliminate these asserted grounds for Mr. Snowden's
claim that he should be treated as a refugee or granted asylum, temporary or otherwise. Please
ensure that this letter reaches the head minister for the Federal Migration Service, aswell as any
other Russian Federation agency responsible for receiving a.d considering Mr. Snowden's
application for asylum.


         Sincerely.
          Eric H . Holder, Jr
           Attorney General