Edward Snowden, a former US intelligence contractor who revealed in 2013 that the US government was spying on its citizens, has said he would like to return to his home country, but only on the condition of a fair trial.

However, the US President Donald Trump has said he will "take a look" at pardoning Snowden.

The former intelligence contractor leaked information and acted as a whistleblower revealing that agents from the National Security Agency (NSA) were conducting a widespread surveillance on the US citizens. However, the United States, in retaliation,&nbsp;accused Snowden of putting national security at risk and declined his claims. Following this,&nbsp;he faces the danger of a conviction on espionage charges that could send him to prison for decades.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/most-infamous-and-shocking-presidential-pardons-in-the-history-of-us-312513">In pics:&nbsp;Most infamous and shocking presidential pardons in the history of US</a>

Snowden has taken exile in Russia since then. Earlier, then-President Barack Obama had tried to set a motion for pardoning Snowden, but had failed to do so.&nbsp;

Now, when the local reporters asked the current President if he would be willing to, or planning to, pardon Snowden, Trump claimed to not know a lot about his case. He also added that the controversy&nbsp;is a "split decision."

"Many people think that he should be somehow treated differently and other people think he did very bad things," he said, and added, "I'm going to take a look at that very strongly."

This statement, given by the President from his media briefing from the Beminster, New Jersey&nbsp;golf field, was a surprise after he made strong remarks against Snowden during his 2016 Presidential campaing, saying,"I think he's a total traitor and I would deal with him harshly."

Edward Snowden, a former US intelligence contractor who revealed in 2013 that the US government was spying on its citizens, has said he would like to return to his home country, but only on the condition of a fair trial.

Edward Snowden, a former US intelligence contractor who revealed in 2013 that the US government was spying on its citizens, has said he would like to return to his home country, but only on the condition of a fair trial. However, the US President Donald Trump has said he will "take a look" at pardoning Snowden. The former intelligence contractor leaked information and acted as a whistleblower revealing that agents from the National Security Agency (NSA) were conducting a widespread surveillance on the US citizens. However, the United States, in retaliation, accused Snowden of putting national security at risk and declined his claims. Following this, he faces the danger of a conviction on espionage charges that could send him to prison for decades. In pics: Most infamous and shocking presidential pardons in the history of US Snowden has taken exile in Russia since then. Earlier, then-President Barack Obama had tried to set a motion for pardoning Snowden, but had failed to do so. Now, when the local reporters asked the current President if he would be willing to, or planning to, pardon Snowden, Trump claimed to not know a lot about his case. He also added that the controversy is a "split decision." "Many people think that he should be somehow treated differently and other people think he did very bad things," he said, and added, "I'm going to take a look at that very strongly." This statement, given by the President from his media briefing from the Beminster, New Jersey golf field, was a surprise after he made strong remarks against Snowden during his 2016 Presidential campaing, saying,"I think he's a total traitor and I would deal with him harshly."

Edward Snowden asks to return to US; Trump to 'take a look' at pardoning

Former US spy contractor Edward Snowden has failed in a legal bid to win guarantees from Norway that it would not extradite him to the United States if he went there to receive a free speech award, a Norwegian court said on Monday. 
 
Snowden&#39;s law firm said in April he would take the state to court to secure free passage to the Nordic country. The United States has filed espionage charges against him for leaking details of extensive US surveillance programmes. He was granted asylum in Russia, which borders Norway, in 2013. 
 
&quot;Oslo District Court has decided that the lawsuit from Edward Snowden against the State regarding extradition, should be dismissed,&quot; the court said in a statement. 
 
Snowden had been invited to Norway to receive a freedom of speech award from the local branch of writers&#39; group PEN International, but worried that he would be handed over to the United States, his lawyers have said. 
 
The Norwegian court said the country&#39;s extradition laws only apply to people who are already in the country, and that the justice ministry could not be compelled to issue a decision on whether or not to extradite someone who lives abroad. 
 
As part of the verdict, Snowden was also ordered to pay 7,000 Norwegian crowns ($823.64) to the government to cover legal expenses. 
 
(Reuters)

Snowden had been invited to Norway to receive a freedom of speech award from the local branch of writers' group PEN International

Former US spy contractor Edward Snowden has failed in a legal bid to win guarantees from Norway that it would not extradite him to the United States if he went there to receive a free speech award, a Norwegian court said on Monday. Snowden's law firm said in April he would take the state to court to secure free passage to the Nordic country. The United States has filed espionage charges against him for leaking details of extensive US surveillance programmes. He was granted asylum in Russia, which borders Norway, in 2013. "Oslo District Court has decided that the lawsuit from Edward Snowden against the State regarding extradition, should be dismissed," the court said in a statement. Snowden had been invited to Norway to receive a freedom of speech award from the local branch of writers' group PEN International, but worried that he would be handed over to the United States, his lawyers have said. The Norwegian court said the country's extradition laws only apply to people who are already in the country, and that the justice ministry could not be compelled to issue a decision on whether or not to extradite someone who lives abroad. As part of the verdict, Snowden was also ordered to pay 7,000 Norwegian crowns ($823.64) to the government to cover legal expenses. (Reuters)

Edward Snowden: Norwegian court rejects lawsuit on free passage

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Edward Snowden asks to return to US; Trump to 'take a look' at pardoning

Edward Snowden: Norwegian court rejects lawsuit on free passage