Kerry: Snowden should come home and deal with the consequences

Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday that former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden should return to the United States to face the consequences of leaking classified documents about the NSA’s secret surveillance programs.

“He should do what many people who have taken issue with their own government do, which is challenge it, speak out, engage in an act of civil disobedience,” said Kerry in an interview with Gwen Ifill at the State Department. “But obviously accept the consequences of that act of civil disobedience, not find refuge in authoritarian Russia or seek asylum in Cuba or somewhere else. That’s running away from the consequences.”

Kerry said that Snowden could have dealt with the information in a better way and that his actions have led to profound consequences for the country’s security.

You can watch the entire interview on Thursday’s PBS NewsHour.