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Russia Might Be Thinking About Returning Snowden To The US As A 'Gift'

NBC News spoke to U.S. intelligence officials who said Russian talks have mentioned sending whistleblower Edward Snowden back to the states.

By: Lindsey Pulse

Posted at 12:00 PM, Feb 11, 2017

and last updated 2017-02-12 05:12:22-05

Edward Snowden is weighing in on reports that say Russia might send him back to the U.S. as a "gift."

Snowden worked for years in the intelligence community. In 2013, he leaked classified National Security Agency files that showed the U.S. government's mass surveillance programs.

The feds charged him with espionage and theft of government property. Since then, he's been holed up in Russia.

Anonymous U.S. intelligence officials told NBC News recent Russian talks have centered around handing the whistleblower over to work up favor with President Donald Trump.

The current U.S. president isn't Snowden's biggest fan. He's called him a "traitor" and a "spy who should be executed."

But in response to the reports, Snowden argued a handover would actually prove he's not a spy because "no country trades away spies."

The Justice Department said it would welcome an exchange because Snowden still faces charges in the states.

But a spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced the claims as "nonsense." Snowden's ACLU lawyer said he hasn't heard anything about the Russian reports, either.