HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019514.jpg
1.61 MB
Extraction Summary
4
People
5
Organizations
2
Locations
2
Events
2
Relationships
5
Quotes
Document Information
Type:
Book excerpt / congressional exhibit
File Size:
1.61 MB
Summary
This document is page 26 from the book 'How America Lost Its Secrets' by Edward Jay Epstein, processed as a House Oversight document (Bates: HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019514). It details Edward Snowden's time at the CIA in Geneva, alleging he was forced to resign due to adding unauthorized code to the CIA system, rather than being fired, to avoid a scandal ('necessary containment'). It contrasts the CIA's public narrative with internal accounts suggesting Snowden was a disgruntled employee with a 'not stellar' career who felt victimized by his superiors.
People (4)
| Name | Role | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Edward Snowden | Subject / Former CIA communications officer |
Discussed regarding his time at the CIA, his resignation, and security breaches.
|
| Drumheller | Former CIA station chief |
Quoted describing Snowden's career as 'not stellar'.
|
| James Risen | Journalist |
Reporter for The Times who received correspondence from Snowden.
|
| Edward Jay Epstein | Author (Implied) |
The filename 'Epst' and ISBN correspond to the book 'How America Lost Its Secrets' by Edward Jay Epstein.
|
Organizations (5)
| Name | Type | Context |
|---|---|---|
| CIA |
Central Intelligence Agency, employer of Snowden.
|
|
| NSA |
National Security Agency, subsequent employer of Snowden.
|
|
| The Times |
New York Times, media outlet reporting on the story.
|
|
| U.S. Mission in Geneva |
Location where Snowden and the unnamed CIA officer were stationed.
|
|
| House Oversight Committee |
Indicated by the Bates stamp 'HOUSE_OVERSIGHT'.
|
Timeline (2 events)
2009
Snowden allowed to keep security clearance despite issues; year of resignation.
Geneva
Relationships (2)
From Moscow, he wrote to James Risen of the Times...
Drumheller, the former CIA station chief, commented on Snowden's career.
Key Quotes (5)
"necessary containment"Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019514.jpg
Quote #1
"blow up in its face"Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019514.jpg
Quote #2
"It was not a stellar career"Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019514.jpg
Quote #3
"to rock the boat"Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019514.jpg
Quote #4
"brushed him off"Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019514.jpg
Quote #5
Full Extracted Text
Complete text extracted from the document (2,419 characters)
26 | HOW AMERICA LOST ITS SECRETS
ever, according to a reply by a CIA public affairs officer to the Times,
Snowden had not been fired or accused of attempting to “break into
classified computer files to which he did not have authorized access.”
Snowden had not been fired or accused of attempting to “break into
classified computer files to which he did not have authorized access.”
A former CIA officer who had also been at the U.S. mission
in Geneva explained the discrepancy to me. He said that the spin
the CIA put on the story was “necessary containment.” After the
Snowden breach occurred in June 2013, the CIA had a problem that
could, as he put it, “blow up in its face.” If Snowden had been fired
but allowed to keep his security clearance in 2009, the CIA’s incom-
petence could be partly blamed for the NSA’s subsequent employ-
ment of him. If he had broken into a computer to which he was not
authorized, he should have been fired if not arrested.
in Geneva explained the discrepancy to me. He said that the spin
the CIA put on the story was “necessary containment.” After the
Snowden breach occurred in June 2013, the CIA had a problem that
could, as he put it, “blow up in its face.” If Snowden had been fired
but allowed to keep his security clearance in 2009, the CIA’s incom-
petence could be partly blamed for the NSA’s subsequent employ-
ment of him. If he had broken into a computer to which he was not
authorized, he should have been fired if not arrested.
What this spin glossed over, according to this former CIA officer,
is the part about Snowden’s behavior that concerned his superior.
Technically, Snowden, as a CIA communications officer, was autho-
rized to use the computer system. The problem was that Snowden
had deliberately misused it by adding code to it. This code could have
compromised the security of the CIA’s “live system.” So while what
the CIA public affairs officer quoted in the Times story said was cor-
rect, it clouded the issue.
is the part about Snowden’s behavior that concerned his superior.
Technically, Snowden, as a CIA communications officer, was autho-
rized to use the computer system. The problem was that Snowden
had deliberately misused it by adding code to it. This code could have
compromised the security of the CIA’s “live system.” So while what
the CIA public affairs officer quoted in the Times story said was cor-
rect, it clouded the issue.
During his time in Geneva, Snowden had received no promotions
or commendations for his work. He was threatened with a punitive
investigation unless he agreed to quietly resign from the CIA. “It
was not a stellar career,” Drumheller, the former CIA station chief,
told me in 2014.
or commendations for his work. He was threatened with a punitive
investigation unless he agreed to quietly resign from the CIA. “It
was not a stellar career,” Drumheller, the former CIA station chief,
told me in 2014.
Snowden blamed his career-ending “derog” on an “e-mail spat”
with a superior. From Moscow, he wrote to James Risen of the Times
that his superior officer ordered him not “to rock the boat.” Further,
he complained that the technical team at the CIA station in Geneva
had “brushed him off,” even though he had a legitimate grievance.
When he complained about a flaw in the computer system, he said
that his superior took vengeance on him. He said he added the code
to the system to prove he was right. He attributed the “derog” in
his file to the incompetence, blindness, and errors of his superiors.
According to Snowden, he was a victim. This would not be the last
time he faulted superiors for their supposed incompetence. He would
with a superior. From Moscow, he wrote to James Risen of the Times
that his superior officer ordered him not “to rock the boat.” Further,
he complained that the technical team at the CIA station in Geneva
had “brushed him off,” even though he had a legitimate grievance.
When he complained about a flaw in the computer system, he said
that his superior took vengeance on him. He said he added the code
to the system to prove he was right. He attributed the “derog” in
his file to the incompetence, blindness, and errors of his superiors.
According to Snowden, he was a victim. This would not be the last
time he faulted superiors for their supposed incompetence. He would
Epst_9780451494566_2p_all_r1.z.indd 26 9/29/16 5:51 PM | HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019514
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