National Security Adviser Susan Rice was unequivocal in her response to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, when he asked if Edward Snowden had been employed as a government spy for the CIA and NSA: No, she said.
“He’s now saying he was an undercover, clandestine officer working as a highly trained spy for the United States,” Mr. Blitzer said, Mediaite reported. “Is that true?”
Ms. Rice responded: “No. Edward Snowden was a contractor working for the NSA and other elements of the intelligence community. Obviously he’s accused of sharing and disclosing, illegally, some of the most sensitive information of the United States government, allegedly.”
She went on: “Our strong view is that rather than give television interviews, he ought to come home and have his day in court, where he will be treated with all of the protections and fairness that our judicial system allows.”
Mr. Snowden made the claim — that he was an undercover spy agent for the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency — during a lengthy interview Wednesday night with Brian Williams.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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