National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden has released a statement to The Huffington Post pleading with the media to stop listening to his father.
Snowden, who recently was granted temporary asylum in Russia, said neither his father, stepmother or father’s attorney are in any way involved in his situation, and “this will not change in the future.”
“I ask journalists to understand that they do not possess any special knowledge regarding my situation or future plans, and not to exploit the tragic vacuum of my father’s emotional compromise for the sake of tabloid news,” Snowden wrote.
The Huffington Post said the ACLU confirmed to them the email was in fact from Snowden.
Snowden also addressed reports from his father’s wife that he was being misled or manipulated by the organizations and journalists he has worked with, including The Guardian’s Glenn Greenwald and WikiLeaks. He said his international legal team consists of “some of the finest lawyers in the world” and he works “with journalists whose integrity and courage are beyond question.”
“There is no conflict amongst myself and any of the individuals or organizations with whom I have been involved,” Snowden said.
Snowden’s father has not been shy in talking with the media since his son’s travels became public. He was on ABC’s “This Week” last Sunday with his attorney and said he was going to Russia to see his son after acquiring the necessary visas. The pair spoke via an Internet chat on Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Read more at POLITICO.
{Matzav.com Newscenter}
