Snowden's father plans to visit son in Russia 'very soon'

Lon Snowden, father of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, and the family's lawyer have reportedly secured documents to visit Edward in Russia. The pair plan to discuss with Edward how he could fight espionage charges, the elder Snowden and his attorney said Sunday.

Neither Lon nor his attorney Bruce Fein has spoken directly with the former NSA analyst since he fled the United States in June, they said on ABC's "This Week." On Aug. 1, Russia granted Edward asylum, allowing him to leave an airport where he had been hiding. Lon said that he looks forward to meeting with his son to consider options for him to return to the U.S. at some point.

Despite his willingness to discuss with Edward a possible return to the U.S., Lon still isn't convinced his son would get a fair hearing in court, given what he called "absolutely irresponsible" descriptions of his son's actions from President Barack Obama, his administration and top lawmakers from both parties.

"They have poisoned the well, so to speak, in terms of a potential jury pool," Lon said.

He added that he is "not open" to a plea deal that would allow his 30-year-old son to return to the U.S.

"The only deal will be true justice," he said, repeating his concern that his son won't be treated well because his right to a fair trial has been compromised.

Edward Snowden roiled the United States intelligence agencies and upended U.S. relations around the globe with his disclosures of highly classified programs that allow the U.S. government to collect millions of pieces of data, including Americans' phone records. The government has charged him with violations of the Espionage Act in federal court in Alexandria, Va.

Bruce Fein, Lon Snowden's lawyer said that he plans to "suggest criminal defense attorneys who've got experience with criminal Espionage Act prosecutions" when he meets with the younger Snowden.

Edward Snowden's whereabouts in Russia remain unknown. The timing of the visit from Lon Snowden and Fein was uncertain.

"We have visas. We have a date, which we won't disclose right now because of the frenzy" over the affair, Fein said during his television appearance. He and Lon Snowden will travel to Russia "very soon," he said.

Last week, Edward Snowden's Russian lawyer said he had sent Lon Snowden the required invitation to visit the country, a step toward securing a travel visa. Anatoly Kucherena said he hoped a visit would happen in the coming days.

Washington's inability to persuade Russia to return the younger Snowden to the U.S. has curdled relations between the Obama administration and the Russian government. Obama canceled a planned summit in Moscow with President Vladimir Putin, although the two countries held high-level political and defense talks in Washington on Friday.

Lon Snowden said the political outrage in Washington would fade and added "the American people are absolutely unhappy with what they've learned -- and more is going to be forthcoming."

"Where my son chooses to live the rest of his life is going to be his decision. But I would like at some point in time for him to be able to come back to the U.S.," Lon Snowden said.

Al Jazeera and wire services