Lon Snowden, the father of Edward Snowden, said he has secured documents to travel to Russia and will visit his son to discuss how to fight espionage charges Edward faces after leaking information about top secret government surveillance programs to the media.
"As a father, I want my son to come home if I believe that the justice system that we should be afforded as Americans is going to be applied correctly," Lon Snowden said Sunday on ABC's This Week.
Snowden appeared on the program along with Bruce Fein, his attorney. They said they have not spoken directly to Edward since he left the United States.
The elder Snowden said he believes statements made by leaders about his son have been "absolutely irresponsible and inconsistent with our system of justice." "They have poisoned the well, so to speak, in terms of a potential jury pool," he said.
He also responded to comments by President Obama that his son was not a patriot. "In terms of him characterizing my son as a patriot ... what I would say is that my son has spoken the truth. He has sacrificed more than either the president of the United States," he said.
Snowden said a date has been selected to travel to Russia, but they are not announcing it publicly.