It claims the former Central Intelligence Agency employee and National Security Agency contractor violated non-disclosure agreements with both agencies because he didn’t submit the book to them for review before publication.
US Government Sues Over Snowden’s Memoir
$15 Million Donated to Republicans Since Impeachment Inquiry
September 28, 2019
Requirements of Whistleblower Knowledge Overhauled in Lead Up to Trump’s Call with Ukraine President
September 28, 2019I know, I know, we’re all probably sick of hearing about whistleblowers after the circus we’ve been subjected to this past week. But I am taking a break from that story to talk about a different whistleblower and his recently published memoir, Permanent Record. Remember Edward Snowden? The guy who released classified documents from the NSA about how they were low key violating the Constitution and is still living in exile?
Well, the US government does, too, and not very fondly, because they immediately filed a lawsuit against Snowden and the publisher of his memoir.
The government also argues he violated NDAs by giving speeches on intelligence issues. As such, it’s seeking to recover all of Snowden’s earnings from the book.
Right. Snowden, a man hated by the federal government for sharing information they didn’t want him to share, was meant to give a copy of his memoir for approval by the same body that doesn’t like him or the things he has to say. Good luck with that.
In response, Snowden’s lawyer Ben Wizner wrote:
“This book contains no government secrets that have not been previously published by respected news organisations.
“Had Mr Snowden believed that the government would review his book in good faith, he would have submitted it for review. But the government continues to insist that facts that are known and discussed throughout the world are still somehow classified.”
Snowden’s response was much more to the point.
Yesterday, the government sued the publisher of #PermanentRecord for—not kidding—printing it without giving the CIA and NSA a change to erase details of their classified crimes from the manuscript. Today, it is the best-selling book in the world: https://t.co/oMJLOvUjG7
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 18, 2019
Love or hate the guy, you can’t argue with that.
