ACLU Lawyer Ben Wizner Discussed Potential Amnesty Deal for Edward Snowden with Russian Attorney

ACLU Lawyer Ben Wizner Discussed Potential Amnesty Deal for Edward Snowden with Russian Attorney The passage reveals a concrete interaction between a high‑profile civil‑rights attorney (Ben Wizner) and Snowden’s Russian counsel, including discussion of a possible DOJ amnesty. It identifies specific legal strategy, dates (July 2013), and the involvement of the ACLU’s ongoing Verizon‑records lawsuit, offering actionable leads for investigators to trace communications, DOJ contacts, and any amnesty negotiations. While not yet proven, the claim ties a prominent lawyer and the Department of Justice to a potential deal that could affect national‑security litigation, making it a strong, actionable lead. Key insights: Wizner was approached by Glenn Greenwald in July 2013 to contact Snowden in Russia.; Snowden expressed interest in amnesty; Wizner considered negotiating with the DOJ.; Kucherena (Snowden’s Russian lawyer) mentioned Wizner as a key figure in the amnesty discussion.