Snowden’s remaining docs unlikely to tie US hands

By The Associated Press
Published: Friday, July 26, 2013, 2:39 am

... The Justice Department is not discussing its prosecution strategy. But while the U.S. isn’t eager for any more classified information to be disclosed, there’s little chance Snowden will be able to use what he has as a bargaining chip to negotiate his prosecution or extradition. That’s because giving into threats would risk opening the door for others to take similar action in the future ...

“I’m betting that there is virtually nothing that Snowden could do or threaten to persuade the (U.S. government) not to prosecute,” said Peter Zeidenberg, a former federal prosecutor who was on the team that prosecuted I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, the Bush administration official who revealed the name of a CIA officer. Zeidenberg said doing so would send a damaging message from the U.S.: “If you are going to steal secrets, get the crown jewels; that way, the government will never dare to prosecute” ...

Zaid said every time Snowden releases more documents it could create additional criminal charges. Zaid is not working on Snowden’s defense and hasn’t been contacted by the leaker. But if he were representing Snowden, Zaid said, “I’d tell him to shut up” and accept the marriage proposal from Russian spy Anna Chapman. On July 3, the attractive redhead who was swept up with nine other sleeper agents and deported from the U.S. in 2010 tweeted, “Snowden, will you marry me?” ...

Graymail is a common defense tactic, and three decades ago a law was passed to combat it. Attorneys say the law was meant to let judges sort out the classified information behind closed doors and determine what the defense genuinely needs to make public. If the judge concludes the defendant cannot get a fair trial without spilling secrets, the government can decide whether to go forward or drop the case ...

http://www.kansasfirstnews.com/2013/07/26/snowdens-remaining-docs-unlikely-to-tie-us-hands-2/