Snowden Took Contractor Job to Gather Surveillance Proof

He tells Hong Kong media

Edward Snowden secured a job with a US government contractor for one reason alone – to obtain evidence on Washington's cyberspying networks, the South China Morning Post can reveal.

For the first time, Snowden has admitted he sought a position at Booz Allen Hamilton so he could collect proof about the US National Security Agency's secret surveillance programmes ahead of planned leaks to the media.

"My position with Booz Allen Hamilton granted me access to lists of machines all over the world the NSA hacked," he told the Post on June 12. "That is why I accepted that position about three months ago."

During a global online chat last week, Snowden also stated he took pay cuts "in the course of pursuing specific work".

His admission comes as US officials voiced anger at Hong Kong, and indirectly Beijing, after the whistle-blower was allowed to leave the city on Sunday.