By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

Glenn Greenwald

During a conference held to award Journalist Glenn Greenwald the Siebenpfeiffer Prize for Journalism, Greenwald reported a conversation in which German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel. In this the Vice Chancellor commented to him that the United States threatened Germany with withholding vital intelligence of terrorist activity if the nation granted asylum to Edward Snowden or otherwise allowed him to travel to Germany.

The event shows the extreme measures the Administration is willing to take regarding whistleblowers and others labeled as threats.

The revelation began when Vice Chancellor Gabriel, speaking of the plight of Edward Snowden, was interrupted by an audience member who asked why Snowden was not offered asylum in Germany.  Gabriel replied that Germany would be required to extradite Snowden to the United States.

Here is a video via Saarbrücker Zeitung containing excerpts of the Vice Chancellor's and Mr. Greenwald's speeches.

Later, when Greenwald had an opportunity to speak to the Vice Chancellor in person,....