Berlin (CNN) -- A German lawmaker who met Edward Snowden in Moscow on Thursday said Friday that the National Security Agency leaker offered to testify in front of the U.S. Congress. "He didn't present himself as an enemy of America, quite the opposite," German member of parliament Hans-Christian Stroebele told reporters in Berlin Friday. Stroebele said he had suggested Snowden testify before German lawmakers and that the former NSA contractor responded that in fact he wants to testify in Washington. Snowden said he might go to Germany, if he gets assurances that he could stay in a safe place afterward without being deported to the United States, said Stroebele, a well-known leftist legislator in Germany.
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NEW: Edward Snowden won't leave Russia to testify on U.S. spying claims, attorney says
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Snowden would like to testify in Washington, German lawmaker says
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Stroebele: "He didn't present himself as an enemy of America, quite the opposite"
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Snowden would like to go to Germany if he were safe from extradition, Stroebele said
The @placeholder has charged Snowden with espionage and theft of government property.
But asked if Snowden could testify to German authorities via video link from @placeholder, Stroebele said that could be problematic for several reasons.
In his closing remarks, Stroebele said that although the @placeholder believes that Snowden has committed a serious offense, he believes he should not be penalized because his revelations have benefited the world.