The US is suing Edward Snowden over his memoir
The government says he broke non-disclosure agreements with the CIA and NSA.
The United States is suing whistleblower Edward Snowden over his memoir, Permanent Record. 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.
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. The US won't try to hamper publication or distribution of Permanent Record, though -- doing so would violate Snowden's First Amendment rights.
It might seem difficult, on the surface, for the US to actually claim his proceeds, given Snowden is living in Russia under asylum. However, the government is suing the book's publisher as well, in an attempt to prevent earnings from being transferred to him. Should he ever return to the US, Snowden also faces criminal charges for allegedly disclosing classified information.
Hours after the United States government filed a lawsuit seeking to punish the publication of my new memoir, #PermanentRecord, the very book the government does not want you to read just became the #1 best-selling book in the world. It is available wherever fine books are sold.
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 17, 2019
