All the while Clowns are building their own bulk data collection infrastructure.
The Patriot Act was in development long before 9/11; just awaiting the right conditions. Biden was involved in its legislative prehistory, if I recall reliably.
Leverage. Putin does not (and certainly did not) have full control in Russia. He likely knew from the “Reset” what the US/NATO intentions were: to get him removed, by threat of war or otherwise. Access to NSA bulk data with Snowden’s info would give him direct intel. Why is R now global enemy #1 for the cabal?