After two years, the Obama administration finally responded to a WhiteHouse.gov petition calling for NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden to be pardoned for leaking classified documents.
The short answer: "No."
In 2013, Snowden released vast troves of classified documents detailing the U.S. government's widespread surveillance activities and quickly left the country, eventually being granted temporary asylum in Russia.
More than 167,000 people signed the Snowden petition on the White House's official "We the People" petition platform asking for his pardon, surpassing the 100,000 signature threshold needed to garner a response from the White House.
Lisa Monaco, the president's homeland security and terrorism adviser, was summoned to craft the response, and on Tuesday, the administration finally made its position on a Snowden pardon crystal clear.
"Instead of constructively addressing these issues, Mr. Snowden's dangerous decision to steal and disclose classified information had severe consequences for the security of our country and the people who work day in and day out to protect it," wrote Monaco.
The Intercept pointed out that Snowden did not actually disclose any classified information to the general public, but rather, leaked the information to news organizations such as the Guardian, Washington Post, New York Times and The Intercept.
The Obama administration still has not been able to specify which specific severe consequences were caused by the leak.
While civil-liberties advocates generally praise Snowden, arguing the leaks were an act of conscience, nearly all lawmakers on Capitol Hill, particularly Republicans, insist his actions were unlawful and treasonous. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump even suggested the computer analyst deserved the death penalty, reported The Huffington Post.
Monaco continued: "If he felt his actions were consistent with civil disobedience, then he should do what those who have taken issue with their own government do: Challenge it, speak out, engage in a constructive act of protest, and - importantly - accept the consequences of his actions. He should come home to the United States and be judged by a jury of his peers - not hide behind the cover of an authoritarian regime. Right now, he's running away from the consequences of his actions."
