Snowden hires Espionage Act expert over plea deal

Edward Snowden, famous for leaking documents from the National Security Agency, has hired one of the most famous names in the law of spying to negotiate on his behalf with the US government.

Plato Cacheris, of Washington DC-based Trout Cacheris, has previously represented spies Robert Hanssen and Aldrich Ames. Mr Cacheris successfully negotiated deals for both men who could have been given a death sentence.

On America's side

Another of Mr Snowden’s lawyers, Ben Wizner, said of his client: ‘Snowden is interested in returning home. He is and always has been on America’s side. He would cooperate in extraordinary ways in the right circumstances. But he does not believe that the ‘felon’ label is the right word for someone whose act of conscience has revitalized democratic oversight of the intelligence community and is leading to historic reforms.’ Source: ABA