A White House petition calling for the pardoning of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden has surpassed the 100,000 signatures it needs for an official response.

ADVERTISEMENT

More than 111,000 people had signed the petition as of midday Monday. The petition requests “a full, free, and absolute pardon for any crimes he [Snowden] has committed or may have committed related to blowing the whistle on secret NSA surveillance programs,” and refers to him as a “national hero.”



A petition on the White House's “We the People” website needs 100,000 signatures in the first month of being posted to earn an official administration response.



A tense international manhunt is underway for Snowden, who revealed classified documents detailing the NSA’s surveillance of phone and internet traffic.



The 30-year-old former government contractor fled from Hong Kong to Moscow on Sunday to avoid a U.S. extradition request and is waiting to hear whether he’ll be granted political asylum in Ecuador. He faces federal charges on espionage and theft of government property.

