Man Identified as Possible Source of National Leak Worked in Hawaiʻi

High tech Hawaiʻi. Photo by Wendy Osher

By Wendy Osher

A man identified as the possible source of a national intelligence leak, once worked with a consulting firm in Hawaiʻi, authorities have confirmed.

Booz Allen Hamilton, a management and technology consulting firm issued a statement on Sunday confirming that Edward Snowden, 29, had been employed with the company for less than three months, and was assigned to a team in Hawaiʻi.

Company officials said news reports that Snowden has claimed to have leaked classified information are “shocking.”  “If accurate,” company officials said in a statement, “this action represents a grave violation of the code of conduct and core values of our firm.”

“We will work closely with our clients and authorities in their investigation of this matter,” the statement said.

Snowden reportedly spoke with news agencies in Hong Kong, defending his actions, according to media reports.  He reportedly fled the country after sparking what the Honolulu Star Advertiser described as “the latest national debate over secret government monitoring.”

The Washington Post and the Guardian publications report that Snowden unveiled himself as the source of several stories that detailed National Security Agency surveillance programs that he reportedly claims were used to collect internet and cell phone data from “innocent citizens.”

A spokesperson from the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a statement yesterday, deferring comment and specifics to the US Department of Justice.

According to the statement an ODNI spokesperson said, “The Intelligence Community is currently reviewing the damage that has been done by these recent disclosures.  Any person who has a security clearance knows that he or she has an obligation to protect classified information and abide by the law.”