Cardin: Russia's Protection Of Snowden 'Troubling'

Russia's protection of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden is "troubling," according to Sen. Ben Cardin.

Cardin issued a statement Thursday denouncing the move to protect Snowden, who had been essentially living in a Moscow airport since late June.

"I am deeply troubled by Russia’s decision to grant temporary asylum to Edward Snowden," Cardin said in a statement. 

Snowden worked as a consultant to the U.S. spy agency. Earlier this year, he gave interviews to British and U.S. newspapers. In those interviews, Snowden revealed national security information including cell phone record collection efforts performed by the super secret agency headquartered in Ft. Meade, MD

Thursday, Snowden left a Moscow airport for the first time since June 23 after the Russian government granted him temporary asylum, according to a Huffington Post report.

Cardin said Snowden should be returned to the United States to stand trial.

"Had a Russian citizen hacked into computers to gain sensitive national security information, there is no question that they would be in prison or worse," Cardin said in his statement. "Edward Snowden broke the law, and as such, Russia should have facilitated his return to the United States to stand trial. "

Whether Snowden is a traitor or not seems to be a matter of public debate.

A Quinnipiac University poll found that 55 percent of those surveyed believe Snowden is a whistle-blower and not a traitor.