Defense contractor Edward Snowden identified himself over the weekend as the man behind the NSA leak. The 29-year-old former CIA communications expert said he released the docs to warn Americans about the government’s phone and Internet surveillance programs as a threat to democracy.
“I’m willing to sacrifice all of that because I can’t in good conscience allow the U.S. government to destroy privacy, Internet freedom and basic liberties for people around the world with this massive surveillance machine they’re secretly building,” Snowden told The Guardian.
Former CIA chief of staff Jeremy Bash told msnbc on Monday that Snowden is “not a whistleblower” and his actions are not justified.
Here’s a look at the stories shaping tonight’s rundown:
- NSA leaker comes forward, says government set to destroy privacy
- 8 things to know about the NSA leaker
- Watch: Guardian’s Greenwald defends leak as essential to democracy
- Rand Paul considers taking NSA surveillance programs to Supreme Court
- Crossroads launches $100K push for immigration reform
- Poll: Cory Booker leads the field in New Jersey
- Mitch McConnell, Harry Reid: 2 sides of same coin
- Dems, GOP waiting for Hillary
- Jason Furman being named Chair of Council of Economic Advisors
- South Africa’s Nelson Mandela remains in hospital
- Elementary school launches toy gun buyback program
- Free gun initiative begins in Houston neighborhood
- Obama loses cool, snaps at staffers in speech mixup
Sarah Muller