McConnell wants Snowden prosecuted ‘to fullest extent of law’

“But what is difficult to understand is the motivations of somebody who would intentionally seek to warn our nation’s enemies of the programs, of the lawful programs, created to protect the American people, and I hope that he will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

McConnell said it was clear that the two programs were subject to rigorous oversight.

{mosads}“What is clear from this information released by the [Director of National Intelligence] is each of these programs is authorized by law, overseen by Congress and the courts, and subject to ongoing and rigorous oversight,” McConnell told reporters.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) avoided answering direct questions about Snowden.

Asked if Congress has provided sufficient oversight of the two programs, Reid said “enough is also something that is in the eye of the beholder.”

President Obama has defended the two programs in the public eye. The first involved data mining of Verizon’s U.S. phone records, though it is thought that the government also looked at the records of other companies.

The second program, known as PRISM, compiled emails, photos, chats and other raw data from international users accessing American Internet services.