Snowden Sued by US Government Over His New Book

A week after Edward Snowden's newly published memoir, Permanent Record, hit the bookshelves, the former NSA contractor and CIA employee today has been named in a civil suit filed by the US government for failing to submit the manuscript to the intelligence agencies prior to publication.

The lawsuit argues that Snowden violated the nondisclosure agreements he had signed with both the CIA and NSA, and alleges that he has given public speeches on US intelligence subjects that also violate the agreements. The US government's lawsuit stops short of halting the publication or distribution of Snowden's book, however. It's about ensuring he doesn't profit from breaking his nondisclosure agreements.

"Edward Snowden has violated an obligation he undertook to the United States when he signed agreements as part of his employment by the CIA and as an NSA contractor," said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Department of Justice Civil Division. "This lawsuit demonstrates that the Department of Justice does not tolerate these breaches of the public's trust. We will not permit individuals to enrich themselves, at the expense of the United States, without complying with their pre-publication review obligations."

Snowden still faces criminal charges for disclosing classified information and for his downloading and leaking classified NSA surveillance program information in June 2013. He has been in Russia since fleeing the US for asylum six years ago.

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