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December 4, 2013

U.K. Police Official Says Guardian Could Face Prosecution for Snowden Leaks 
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The editor of the British newspaper The Guardian appeared before a
parliamentary hearing on Tuesday to face questions on the publication of
the surveillance leaks of Edward Snowden. Alan Rusbridger told British
lawmakers his newspaper has published less than 1 percent of the leaked
information it has received.

Alan Rusbridger: "We continue to publish stuff but it's about 1 percent
of what we were given. I can't think of any story in recent times, that
has ricocheted around the world like this has, and which has been more
broadly debated in parliament, in the courts, amongst NGO's."

During his comments, Rusbridger said he has met with British and U.S.
intelligence officials more than 100 times since the Snowden leaks as
part of an effort "designed to intimidate." The Guardian agreed to
destroy its trove of Snowden files in its London offices earlier this
year after the British government threatened legal action. Rusbridger
was later asked if he loves his country.

Keith Vaz, U.K. Parliamentarian: "Do you love this country?"

Alan Rusbridger: "We live in a democracy. Most of the people working on
this story are British people who have families in this country, who
love this country, and I'm slightly surprised to be asked the question,
but yes we are patriots. And one of the things we are patriotic about is
the nature of the democracy and the nature of a free press, and the fact
that one can in this country discuss and report these things."

At the same hearing, a top British police official refused to rule out
the prosecution of Guardian staffers for publishing Snowden's leaks,
saying "some people may have committed offenses."

 

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