Senator Accuses Putin of 'Aiding and Abetting Snowden's Escape' - East Idaho News
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Senator Accuses Putin of ‘Aiding and Abetting Snowden’s Escape’

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Getty 082812 VladimirPutin?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1372004541559Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., accused Russian President Vladimir Putin Sunday of “aiding and abetting” NSA leaker Edward Snowden’s escape from Hong Kong.

“What’s infuriating here is Prime Minister [sic] Putin of Russia aiding and abetting Snowden’s escape,” Schumer said on CNN’s State of the Union Sunday.

“The bottom line is very simple: Allies are supposed to treat each other in decent ways, and Putin always seems almost eager to put a finger in the eye of the United States, whether it is Syria, Iran and now, of course, with Snowden,” he said. “I think it’ll have serious consequences for the United States-Russia relationship.”

Schumer also questioned the involvement of Chinese officials in influencing Hong Kong’s decision to allow Snowden to leave despite an extradition request from the U.S.

“Well, first, very disappointing what Hong Kong has done. It remains to be seen how much influence Beijing had on Hong Kong. As you know, they coordinate their foreign policies. And I have a feeling the hand of Beijing was involved here,” Schumer said.

Hong Kong officials said Sunday that Snowden left Hong Kong on Sunday “on his own accord for a third country through a lawful and normal channel.”

The Hong Kong government said that the U.S. government’s extradition request “did not fully comply with the legal requirements under Hong Kong Law” and argued that there was “no legal basis to restrict Mr. Snowden from leaving Hong Kong.”

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

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