Attorney General Eric Holder is open to negotiations with former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.
In , Holder rejected giving Snowden amnesty for leaking documents which revealed NSA surveillance programs, but he said the government would “engage in conversation” if attorneys for Snowden wanted to discuss a plea deal.
Typically, that kind of a deal would involve Snowden admitting wrongdoing, pleading guilty to lesser charges and receiving some prison time or fines.
In recent weeks, as well as the and the have called for amnesty.
Rick Ledgett, head of an NSA task force that is looking into the Snowden leaks, if it means keeping Snowden from leaking more documents.
His boss, current NSA head Gen. Keith Alexander, rejected the idea, however.
And the former head of the NSA, Michael Hayden, compared granting Snowden amnesty to and said it would encourage other leakers.
Public opinion still stands against the idea however, with only 23 percent of respondents supporting the move, and 61 percent thinking Snowden should have to stand trial.
