[attach id=271832 size="medium"]Lon Snowden, the father of fugitive former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden. Photo: Reuters[/attach]

National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden’s father has secured documents to visit his son in Russia and plans to discuss how he could fight espionage charges.

Neither Lon Snowden nor his lawyer Bruce Fein has spoken directly with the former NSA analyst since he fled the US and was given asylum in Russia, they said. But the father and lawyer also said they look forward to meeting Edward Snowden to consider options for the leaker to return to the US at some point.

“As a father, I want my son to come home if I believe that the justice system... is going to be applied correctly,” Lon Snowden said.

But the elder Snowden 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 politicians from both parties.

“They have poisoned the well, so to speak, in terms of a potential jury pool,” said Lon Snowden, of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Edward Snowden angered the US intelligence agencies and upended US relations around the globe with his disclosures of highly classified programmes that allow the US 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, Virginia.

Mr Fein said the family is willing to discuss conditions under which Edward Snowden might return to the US and perhaps face criminal proceedings. He added that he plans to “suggest criminal defence attorneys who’ve got experience with criminal Espionage Act prosecutions” when he meets Mr Snowden.

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

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.

Russia’s decision to grant Edward Snowden temporary asylum angered the US government and scuttled Mr Obama’s plans for a one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in visit Moscow next month.