Sen. Chuck Schumer commented Sunday on news that Edward Snowden left Hong Kong, where he had been hiding since he revealed himself as the NSA leaker, for Moscow, saying that “Putin always seems eager to put a finger in the eye of the United States.”
Although the U.S made a formal request for his extradition, the Hong Kong government said it needed more information about the request and had no legal basis to prevent Snowden from leaving.Russia is not expected to be Snowden’s final destination, but he is believed to be landing in Moscow before he heads to another country.
“The fact that [Russian officials] allowed him to land, indicates that we are not in a place of cooperation,” Schumer said on CNN’s State of The Union. He added that this could have “serious consequences” for Russian-U.S. relations.
Schumer also said he is “very disappointed” in Hong Kong’s decision to let him leave, adding that he believes the “hand of Beijing” was involved here.
