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NSA leaks: US charges Edward Snowden with spying | NSA leaks: US charges Edward Snowden with spying |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The US justice department has filed criminal charges against a fugitive ex-intelligence analyst who leaked details of a secret surveillance operation. | The US justice department has filed criminal charges against a fugitive ex-intelligence analyst who leaked details of a secret surveillance operation. |
The charges against ex-National Security Agency (NSA) analyst Edward Snowden include espionage and theft of government property. | The charges against ex-National Security Agency (NSA) analyst Edward Snowden include espionage and theft of government property. |
In May, Mr Snowden fled to Hong Kong after leaking details of a programme to monitor phone and internet data. | In May, Mr Snowden fled to Hong Kong after leaking details of a programme to monitor phone and internet data. |
The US is also reported to be preparing an extradition request. | The US is also reported to be preparing an extradition request. |
His leaks revealed that US agencies had systematically gathered vast amounts of phone and web data. | His leaks revealed that US agencies had systematically gathered vast amounts of phone and web data. |
The criminal complaint was lodged with a federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia and a provisional arrest warrant had been issued, court documents show. | |
Mr Snowden was charged with "Theft of Government Property", "Unauthorized communication of National Defense Information Information" and "Willful Communication of Classified Communications Intelligence". | Mr Snowden was charged with "Theft of Government Property", "Unauthorized communication of National Defense Information Information" and "Willful Communication of Classified Communications Intelligence". |
Each of the charges carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence. The complaint is dated 14 June although it was made only public on Friday. | |
The BBC's Katy Watson in Washington says the move shows how seriously the US administration is taking the issue. | The BBC's Katy Watson in Washington says the move shows how seriously the US administration is taking the issue. |
Democratic Senator Bill Nelson, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, welcomed the charges. | |
"I've always thought this was a treasonous act,'' he said in a statement. "I hope Hong Kong's government will take him into custody and extradite him to the US." | |
Correspondents say that although the US and Hong Kong co-operate on law enforcement matters, Mr Snowden's appeal rights could drag out any extradition proceedings. | |
The leaks led to revelations that the US is systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data under an NSA programme known as Prism. | |
Mr Snowden has also alleged that US intelligence had been hacking into Chinese computer networks. | Mr Snowden has also alleged that US intelligence had been hacking into Chinese computer networks. |
He said he had decided to speak out after observing "a continuing litany of lies" from senior officials to Congress. | He said he had decided to speak out after observing "a continuing litany of lies" from senior officials to Congress. |
The leaks have been a severe embarrassment for President Barack Obama's administration. | The leaks have been a severe embarrassment for President Barack Obama's administration. |
US officials have since launched a robust defence of the practice by US intelligence agencies of gathering telephone and internet data from private users around the world. | US officials have since launched a robust defence of the practice by US intelligence agencies of gathering telephone and internet data from private users around the world. |
They say Prism cannot be used to intentionally target any Americans or anyone in the US, and that it is supervised by judges. | They say Prism cannot be used to intentionally target any Americans or anyone in the US, and that it is supervised by judges. |
Earlier this week the head of the NSA, Gen Keith Alexander, told Congress that it had helped to thwart terror attacks. | Earlier this week the head of the NSA, Gen Keith Alexander, told Congress that it had helped to thwart terror attacks. |