Anti-Surveillance Hero Edward Snowden May Testify Before European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

The Guardian today is reporting
that various members of the European Parliament are working to
arrange for video testimony from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden
before that body’s committee on civil liberties, justice and home
affairs. From The Guardian:

The LIBE committee would most likely want questions on what role
other European information services played in data gathering for
the NSA, and whether servers and data networks in the EU were used
as part of the process…

European parliament sources considered it likely committee
members would vote in favour of a Snowden hearing, with the only
vocal opposition from British Tory MEPs…

Sarah Ludford, the Lib Dem MEP, said: “Edward Snowden’s
revelations merit serious debate on whether the intelligence
services are out of control. But if Snowden’s video appearance is
to be more than a high-profile stunt, it is essential that he is
asked the right questions, including whether he had any other
motivation than the public interest.

“We also need to get testimony from the intelligence chiefs
responsible if we are to give European citizens the answers they
deserve.”

After President Obama
pardons Snowden, perhaps he could testify about the constitutional
abuses of national security surveillance in the U.S. before the
judiciary and intelligence committees in both Houses of
Congress.