Edward Snowden, the 29-year-old former technical assistant for the CIA and NSA through his job as a contractor at Booz Allen Hamilton, has been terminated, according to a statement released by Booz Allen Hamilton on Tuesday.
Snowden is said to be the source behind the recent intelligence leaks leading to headlines on surveillance programs run by the NSA.
“Booz Allen can confirm that Edward Snowden, 29, was an employee of our firm for less than 3 months, assigned to a team in Hawaii,” the company noted in a statement.
According to the firm, Snowden had an annual salary of $122,000 and was terminated June 10, 2013 for “violations of the firm’s code of ethics and firm policy.”
“News reports that this individual has claimed to have leaked classified information are shocking, and if accurate, this action represents a grave violation of the code of conduct and core values of our firm,” the statement continued. “We will work closely with our clients and authorities in their investigation of this matter.”
Snowden’s identity was revealed by The Guardian at his request after he had disclosed top-secret documents to the public. Snowden, who chose not to opt for the protection of anonymity, told The Guardian that he had no intention of hiding because he had done nothing wrong.
According to The Guardian, Snowden expects the US government to attempt to use all its weight to punish him. “I am not afraid,” he said in an interview, “because this is the choice I’ve made.”
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