NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden is "considering' returning to the United States if certain conditions are met,
his lawyer told Germany's Der Spiegel.
"There are negotiations," Snowden's German lawyer Wolfgang Kaleck said, according to a translation on
RT.com, a news agency based in Russia. "Those who know the case are aware that an amicable agreement with the U.S. authorities will be most reasonable," Kaleck said.
Snowden is not involved in the negotations, Kaleck told Der Spiegel.
Kraleck also said his client acted without malice and caused no harm when he downloaded 1.7 million classified files detailing how the U.S. government spies on people around the world, including, potentially, American citizens.
Public and Washington sentiment on whether Snowden is a hero or traitor is divided. He has advocates and adversaries on both the left and right of the American political spectrum.
But the Justice Department under President Barack Obama has
sought to prosecute whistleblowers under the Espionage Act. Snowden wants to avoid a long prison sentence if he returns, and is charged with two counts of violating the Espionage Act and one charge of theft of government property.
He is living under temporary asylum in Russia.
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