He was purposely prevented from leaving Russia - trapped in the Moscow airport - by the very Obama officials who then cynically weaponized his presence there to imply he was a civil-liberties hypocrite for вЂњchoosingвЂќ to live in such a repressive country or, even worse, a Kremlin agent or Russian spy.Д«ut now we have absolute, definitive proof that Snowden never intended to stay in Russia but was deliberately prevented from leaving by the same Obama officials who exploited the predicament which they created. It has long been clear that this narrative was a lie: Snowden, after meeting with journalists in Hong Kong, intended only to transit through Moscow and then Havana on his way to seek asylum in Latin America. (Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)Д®ver since Edward Snowden received asylum from Russia in 2013, Obama officials have repeatedly maligned his motives and patriotism by citing his 'choiceвЂќ to take up residence there. Ben Rhodes, then-Deputy National Security Advisor to US President Barack Obama, speaks about the President's upcoming trip to Cuba during a daily press briefing at the White House Februin Washington, DC.

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