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Edward Snowden sued by US government 'to recover all proceeds' from his memoir

Snowden, who is currently living in Russia to avoid prosecution in the US, has released a new memoir called Permament Record.

Edward Snowden leaked information about intelligence programmes.
Image: Edward Snowden leaked documents about telephone and internet surveillance
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The US government is suing Edward Snowden over his new book, saying it "violates non-disclosure agreements".

America's justice department is seeking to "recover all proceeds" from the whistleblower's memoir, Permanent Record, because it was published without being submitted to intelligence agencies for review.

Snowden, a former US National Security Agency (NSA) contractor, is currently living in Russia to avoid prosecution in the US.

He leaked tens of thousands of top secret documents about telephone and internet surveillance in 2013.

In his memoir, Snowden tells his life story in detail for the first time and explains why he chose to risk his freedom to become perhaps the most famous whistleblower of all time.

It offers an expansive account of how the 36-year-old came to reveal secret details about the US government's mass collection of emails, phone calls and internet activity in the name of national security.

The justice department said it is not attempting to limit the book's distribution, but is asking a federal judge to allow the government to collect all the proceeds.

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Image: Snowden appeared via video link at an event in Germany to promote his book

Assistant attorney general Jody Hunt said: "We will not permit individuals to enrich themselves, at the expense of the United States, without complying with their pre-publication review obligations."

The book's publisher, Macmillan, is also named in the lawsuit to ensure no funds are transferred to Snowden while the case is ongoing, the justice department said.

The lawsuit claims Snowden violated non-disclosure agreements he signed with both the NSA and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) by publishing his book without submitting it for review beforehand.

Speaking by video link at an event in Berlin to promote the book, Snowden said that while he had signed a non-disclosure agreement to maintain secrecy, he had also sworn an oath to uphold the US constitution.

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He said: "You've told the government you're not going to talk to journalists. You've told them you're not going to write a book.

"At the same time you have an oath to defend the constitution. And the secret that you are asked to protect is that the government is violating that constitution and the rights of people around the world."

Snowden's lawyer, Ben Wizner, said the book does not contain any secrets that have not previously been reported by news outlets.

He added: "Had Mr Snowden believed that the government would review his book in good faith, he would have submitted it for review.


Snowden was charged in June 2013 with two counts of violating the US Espionage Act and theft of government property, and his passport was revoked.

He has called on French President Emmanuel Macon to grant him asylum, having unsuccessfully applied in 2013 under Mr Macron's predecessor, Francois Hollande.