NSA Leaker Edward Snowden’s Asylum Options Narrow

Edward Snowden reportedly remains in the transit area of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport where he’s been since June 23rd.

The 30-year-old former National Security Agency contractor is wanted by US officials on espionage charges for revealing the secret US electronic surveillance program Prism.

Snowden is applying for asylum to almost any nation that will listen but so far, there are no firm takers.

The problem is that there is literally and figuratively a gap between where he is and where he needs to be to be able to claim asylum.

Marco Werman speaks with Joshua Keating of Foreign Policy Magazine on the dilemma for Snowden and his (sort of) Russian hosts.

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