Menendez: Snowden Asylum a 'Step Against' U.S.

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) warned that any country offering asylum to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden “is taking a step against the United States.”

Menendez, New Jersey’s senior senator and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, didn’t mince words in a weekend interview on Meet the Press.

"I'm not surprised by the countries that are offering him asylum," Menendez said on the program, according to the Huffington Post. "They like sticking it to the United States."

So far, three countries—Bolivia, Venezuela and Nicaragua—have entertained political asylum offers for Snowden, who is wanted on espionage charges after he revealed details of a wide-ranging, secret surveillance program.

A Russian politician on Tuesday tweeted that Snowden had arranged for asylum with Venezuela. But the tweet was quickly deleted.

Menendez said on Meet the Press that any country granting Snowden asylum could face consequences, including trade repercussions.

Do you agree with Menendez? Should the U.S. punish a country that grants asylum to Edward Snowden? Tell us in the comments.