Former National Security Agency employee and the world famous whistle-blower Edward Snowden who is now a fugitive living in Russia gave a long and detailed interview to NBC anchor Brian Williams. The interview took place in a hotel in Moscow and was his first ever interview for an American network. Snowden who is accused of leaking secret and confidential security information had to run away from America as his passport was revoked.
The NSA leaker has been slammed by a number of government officials for his actions, but apparently in the interview he calls himself a patriot. He justified himself by saying that by disclosing the information, he was only protecting the constitution of the United States and his fellow countrymen. In the interview which was broadcast on Wednesday, Snowden defended his actions with respect to leaking secret documents which was about the various surveillance programs carried out by the US government.
His latest interview drew sharp response from the Secretary of State John Kerry who said that patriots do not run away and seek asylum in countries like Cuba or Russia. Real patriots fight for their cause through the legal system. Kerry said that if he really is a patriot, he should come back and face the justice system of the United States.
President Barack Obama called him a hacker last year while others labeled him as a row ranking analyst, but according to him, he was trained as a CIA spy and was forced to work under cover and was even given a false name. He also told that he is not a pawn to Russian President Vladimir Putin and is not working for any Russian agency.
In the end, he admitted that if the US offered him clemency, he would welcome it sincerely.