Snowden Says He Sought Booz Allen Job To Gather NSA Information

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3491203

From The Huffington Post:

Edward Snowden Says He Sought Booz Allen Hamilton Job To Gather NSA Surveillance Evidence

Mollie Reilly The Huffington Post Jun 24, 2013

Edward Snowden, the former government contractor who leaked information on the National Security Agency's surveillance programs, says he sought the job with Booz Allen Hamilton to gather evidence on the agency's data collection networks.

In a June 12 interview with the South China Morning Post published Monday, Snowden, who previously worked as a CIA technician, said he took the position with the intention of collecting information on the NSA.

“My position with Booz Allen Hamilton granted me access to lists of machines all over the world the NSA hacked,” he said. “That is why I accepted that position about three months ago.”

SCMP reports:

Asked if he specifically went to Booz Allen Hamilton to gather evidence of surveillance, he replied: “Correct on Booz.”
His intention was to collect information about the NSA hacking into “the whole world” and “not specifically Hong Kong and China”.

The documents he divulged to the Post were obtained during his tenure at Booz Allen Hamilton in April, he said.

Snowden also told the Chinese newspaper that he intends to leak more documents on the NSA's programs.

Last week, Reuters reported that Booz Allen Hamilton hired Snowden despite finding possible discrepancies in his resume. The Senate has also launched an investigation into USIS, the government contractor that vetted Snowden in 2011.

"We are limited in what we can say about this investigation because it is an ongoing criminal matter," Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said of the investigation. "But it is a reminder that background investigations can have real consequences for our national security."

According to the latest reports, Snowden has left Hong Kong and is believed to be in Russia. Snowden reportedly did not make a Monday flight to Cuba as planned.

During a Monday conference call with reporters, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said Snowden is "safe and healthy," but would not give further details on his whereabouts.

Between this latest news, and the fact he is currently on the run, in my opinion, in no way makes him a hero or a whistleblower.

[Cali_Democrat]

1. Yep. This does not meet the definition of a whistleblower

He didn't suddenly become appalled by the NSA's practices and then become a whistleblower. He took the job at BAH specifically to get his hands on this data. He was probably downloading the data to his thumb drive from day one.

His goal the whole time was to steal the classified information.

Definitely not a whistleblower.

[grahamhgreen]

13. If you don't want to defend the constitution, you are playing on the wrong side. Snowden = Hero.

IMHO

[flamingdem]

2. Yes, he hosed himself with this one nt

[bunnies]

3. Wasnt it obvious?

[Dawson Leery]

4. If this is so, Snowden is not a "whistleblower", meaning he has no protection.

[bobduca]

15. YAY we WIN!

Rendition and Torture will proceed as Planned! Two minutes of Hate is Back on, Baby!

[longship]

5. Curiouser and curiouser it gets.

This speaks to premeditation and will make it more difficult for Mr. Snowden if he is apprehended.

[OregonBlue]

6. He really should stop talking. With this admission he's gone from whistleblower good guy to

infiltrator/spy. Wow. Not very bright.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. Good for him. It worked and the snoopers have been outed.

And, it's provoked a long overdue backlash against the secret state.

[morningfog]

8. I hope more follow his lead.

[Shivering Jemmy]

10. Nah.

The NSA needs to be able to hack other nation's computers. That is exactly their job and I hope neither snowden nor anyone else impedes it.

[forestpath]

17. +1

[one_voice]

9. This puts things in...

a different light..

Asked if he specifically went to Booz Allen Hamilton to gather evidence of surveillance, he replied: “Correct on Booz.”
His intention was to collect information about the NSA hacking into “the whole world” and “not specifically Hong Kong and China”.

I said there was more to the story and we're far from done. As for the hero meme...not so much.

[davidpdx]

14. ROFL

It just keeps getting better.

[kentuck]

11. If true?

I am not real familiar with the South China Morning Post? Perhaps there are some people here that read it on a regular basis?

[MattFromKY]

12. Combined with this...

@ggreenwald

@TheStalwart The reality is that Laura Poitras and I have been working with him since February, long before anyone spoke to Bart Gellman

https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/statuses/344040301972815872

---

No wonder Greenwald gets touchy about calls for his imprisonment. Planting your sources with the intent to commit espionage? Not looking good for Glenn.

[Democracyinkind]

18. "Planting"

If you're not trying to imply that Greenwald hired Snowden @ Booz Allen your post could be viewed as slightly misleading.

[usGovOwesUs3Trillion]

16. Smart Whistle Blower (n/t)