WASHINGTON — Edward J. Snowden's father said Sunday he had obtained visas to visit the former intelligence contractor in Russia and indicated he would encourage him to return to the United States to face federal charges for revealing secret US surveillance programs to journalists, but only if acceptable trial conditions could be negotiated. "What I would like," said Lon Snowden, "is for this to be vetted in open court, for the American people to have all the facts."
He said he favored his son's return if a fair trial was assured. As for a possible plea deal, he said, "I'm not open to it, and that's what I'll share with my son."
Appearing on the ABC News program "This Week," Lon Snowden and the family's lawyer, Bruce Fein, declined to say when they would visit, to avoid what Fein called a news media "frenzy," but they said it would be soon.
In a criminal complaint filed in June, federal prosecutors charged Edward Snowden with theft, "unauthorized communication of national defense information," and willfully disclosing classified communications intelligence "to an unauthorized person." The second and third charges were brought under the Espionage Act of 1917.
"We intend to visit with Edward and suggest criminal defense attorneys who have got experience in Espionage Act prosecutions," said Fein.