HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019667.jpg
1.58 MB
Extraction Summary
7
People
8
Organizations
4
Locations
2
Events
2
Relationships
5
Quotes
Document Information
Type:
Book proof / congressional oversight document
File Size:
1.58 MB
Summary
This document is page 179 from a book proof (stamped House Oversight Committee, dated 9/29/16) titled 'The Keys to the Kingdom Are Missing,' likely authored by Edward Jay Epstein (indicated by filename 'Epst'). The text critically analyzes Edward Snowden's claim that he destroyed all NSA documents in Hong Kong before traveling to Russia. The author argues this narrative is self-serving and illogical, citing statements by Anatoly Kucherena and interviews Snowden gave to various journalists (Bamford, Rusbridger, vanden Heuvel, Williams). NOTE: The 'Epst' in the filename refers to author Edward Jay Epstein, not Jeffrey Epstein.
People (7)
| Name | Role | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Edward Snowden | Subject |
Former NSA contractor discussing the handling of stolen documents.
|
| James Bamford | Journalist |
Writer for Wired magazine who interviewed Snowden.
|
| Alan Rusbridger | Editor |
Editor of The Guardian who interviewed Snowden.
|
| Katrina vanden Heuvel | Editor |
Editor of The Nation who interviewed Snowden.
|
| Brian Williams | Journalist |
NBC News anchor who conducted a televised interview with Snowden.
|
| Anatoly Kucherena | Lawyer/Spokesperson |
Made a statement regarding Snowden's access to documents in Russia.
|
| Edward Jay Epstein | Author (Implied) |
The filename 'Epst' and the narrative voice suggest this is from a book by Edward Jay Epstein, likely 'How America Lo...
|
Organizations (8)
| Name | Type | Context |
|---|---|---|
| NSA |
National Security Agency, target of the data theft.
|
|
| Wired magazine |
Publication associated with James Bamford.
|
|
| The Guardian |
Publication associated with Alan Rusbridger.
|
|
| The Nation |
Publication associated with Katrina vanden Heuvel.
|
|
| NBC News |
Network associated with Brian Williams.
|
|
| The Times |
Newspaper (likely NYT) Snowden spoke to.
|
|
| Russian intelligence service |
Entity the author argues could obtain secrets from Snowden.
|
|
| House Oversight Committee |
Indicated by the Bates stamp 'HOUSE_OVERSIGHT'.
|
Timeline (2 events)
June 2013
Relationships (2)
Kucherena made statements regarding Snowden's access to documents.
Televised interview conducted.
Key Quotes (5)
"he could not provide access to the Russians even if they 'break my fingers.'"Source
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Quote #1
"Snowden went to considerable risk to select, copy, and steal Level 3 documents before leaving Hawaii for Hong Kong."Source
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Quote #2
"Why would he have destroyed them in June in Hong Kong?"Source
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Quote #3
"the secrets he held in his head would have devastating consequences for NSA operations."Source
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Quote #4
"he still couldn’t be '100 percent' certain, as he claimed, that the data had not been accessed by others prior to his departure from Hong Kong."Source
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Quote #5
Full Extracted Text
Complete text extracted from the document (2,352 characters)
The Keys to the Kingdom Are Missing | 179
want to risk bringing them to Russia. He expanded on this claim in
three more interviews. These interviews were all with three jour-
nalists who had opposed NSA surveillance: James Bamford, writing
for Wired magazine; Alan Rusbridger, the editor of The Guardian;
and Katrina vanden Heuvel, the editor of The Nation. He also gave
a televised interview to Brian Williams of NBC News in which he
explained that because he had no access to the NSA documents in
Russia, he could not provide access to the Russians even if they
“break my fingers.”
three more interviews. These interviews were all with three jour-
nalists who had opposed NSA surveillance: James Bamford, writing
for Wired magazine; Alan Rusbridger, the editor of The Guardian;
and Katrina vanden Heuvel, the editor of The Nation. He also gave
a televised interview to Brian Williams of NBC News in which he
explained that because he had no access to the NSA documents in
Russia, he could not provide access to the Russians even if they
“break my fingers.”
Snowden did not specify where, when, or how the putative
destruction of the files occurred and offered neither witnesses nor
evidence, other than the meaningless blank laptop screen, to cor-
roborate it. Still his new self-serving narrative was widely accepted
by the media. The fact remains, though, that Snowden went to con-
siderable risk to select, copy, and steal Level 3 documents before
leaving Hawaii for Hong Kong. These secrets were his last potential
bargaining chips. Why would he have destroyed them in June in
Hong Kong?
destruction of the files occurred and offered neither witnesses nor
evidence, other than the meaningless blank laptop screen, to cor-
roborate it. Still his new self-serving narrative was widely accepted
by the media. The fact remains, though, that Snowden went to con-
siderable risk to select, copy, and steal Level 3 documents before
leaving Hawaii for Hong Kong. These secrets were his last potential
bargaining chips. Why would he have destroyed them in June in
Hong Kong?
It is also difficult for me to accept that Snowden would destroy
these documents because he feared the Russians might get them.
If he was so concerned about the possibility, he could have stayed
in Hong Kong and fought extradition instead of flying to Russia.
Surely he must have realized that even without the files on his com-
puter, the Russian intelligence service could still obtain the NSA
secrets he held in his head. Indeed, as he told the Times, the secrets
he held in his head would have devastating consequences for NSA
operations.
these documents because he feared the Russians might get them.
If he was so concerned about the possibility, he could have stayed
in Hong Kong and fought extradition instead of flying to Russia.
Surely he must have realized that even without the files on his com-
puter, the Russian intelligence service could still obtain the NSA
secrets he held in his head. Indeed, as he told the Times, the secrets
he held in his head would have devastating consequences for NSA
operations.
In light of Kucherena’s statement that in Russia Snowden had
access to NSA documents, it would require a serious suspension of
disbelief to accept Snowden’s new narrative. Even if one were will-
ing to accept his new claim, it still would not mean that the NSA
documents had not fallen into the hands of adversaries. If he had
destroyed all of the electronic copies of the NSA’s data before board-
ing his flight to Moscow, he still couldn’t be “100 percent” certain, as
he claimed, that the data had not been accessed by others prior to his
departure from Hong Kong. His files could have been copied with-
access to NSA documents, it would require a serious suspension of
disbelief to accept Snowden’s new narrative. Even if one were will-
ing to accept his new claim, it still would not mean that the NSA
documents had not fallen into the hands of adversaries. If he had
destroyed all of the electronic copies of the NSA’s data before board-
ing his flight to Moscow, he still couldn’t be “100 percent” certain, as
he claimed, that the data had not been accessed by others prior to his
departure from Hong Kong. His files could have been copied with-
Epst_9780451494566_2p_all_r1.z.indd 179 9/29/16 5:51 PM
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