US charges NSA leaker Snowden with espionage. Authorities have also begun the process of getting Snowden back to the United States to stand trial.

US charges NSA leaker Snowden with espionage

The Guardian via Getty Images 

Edward Snowden speaks during an interview in Hong Kong.

By Pete Williams and Becky Bratu, NBC News

Federal prosecutors Friday filed espionage charges against alleged National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, officials familiar with the process said. Authorities have also begun the process of getting Snowden back to the United States to stand trial.

The officials did not describe the charges in detail because they've been filed under seal in federal court in Alexandria, Va. The documents are not publicly available.
According to officials, charges accuse Snowden of violating federal espionage laws by sharing classified documents with people who were not cleared to receive them.
Snowden, who is a former employee of defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton, leaked details about far-reaching Internet and phone surveillance programs to The Guardian and The Washington Post earlier this month. He revealed his identity while in Hong Kong, where it is believed he is still hiding.



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Julian Assange says WikiLeaks helping Snowden gain asylum

Anthony Devlin / Pool / Reuters

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks to the media inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London on June 14, 2013.

By Andrew Rafferty and Courtney Kube, NBC News

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Wednesday said members of his anti-secrecy website have been in contact with lawyers of alleged National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden and are helping him seek asylum in Iceland.
Speaking to reporters during a conference call on the one-year anniversary of his own asylum in the Ecuadoran Embassy in London, Assange said his group has a “common cause” with Snowden, but would not comment on whether he personally has spoken with supposed whistle-blower.
Assange did say, “We are in touch with Mr. Snowden’s legal team and have been, are involved, in the process of brokering his asylum in Iceland.”
Snowden leaked details about far-reaching Internet and phone surveillance programs to The Guardian and The Washington Post earlier this month. He revealed his identity while in Hong Kong, where it is believed he is still hiding.

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WikiLeaks may publish more revelations promised by Snowden – Assange

Published time: June 20, 2013 14:03
Edited time: June 20, 2013 15:04

Edward Snowden and Julian Assange (AFP Photo)

WikiLeaks may publish further revelations promised by NSA leaker Edward Snowden, Julian Assange hinted during a conference call with journalists. He reiterated that his legal team is helping Snowden in his quest for asylum in Iceland.
“I feel a great deal of personal sympathy with Mr. Snowden,” the WikiLeaks founder said, adding that he had been in touch with Snowden’s lawyers.

"We are in touch with Mr. Snowden's legal team and have been, are involved, in the process of brokering his asylum in Iceland," he said in a conference call from the Ecuadorian Embassy, where he himself has been fighting his extradition to Sweden for nearly a year.
When asked if he had spoken directly with Snowden, the former CIA contractor who fled to Hong Kong before disclosing the NSA’s PRISM surveillance program, Assange declined to offer further details.

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