Snowden plugs memoir after lawsuit: ‘The book the government does not want you to read’

Edward Snowden plugged his new memoir as “the book the government does not want you to read,” after the U.S. government sued him Tuesday, alleging that the book violates nondisclosure agreements with the National Security Agency (NSA) and the CIA. 

“The government of the United States has just announced a lawsuit over my memoir, which was just released today worldwide. This is the book the government does not want you to read,” Snowden fired back on Twitter.

The government of the United States has just announced a lawsuit over my memoir, which was just released today worldwide. This is the book the government does not want you to read: (link corrected) https://t.co/JS1AJ6QlXg

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 17, 2019

Snowden, who made headlines in 2013 when he leaked information about the NSA’s global and domestic surveillance programs, released his book Tuesday. The government says it violates nondisclosure agreements since Snowden did not submit the memoir for a review prior to publication.

{mosads}Rather than trying to block the book’s publishing, the lawsuit asks that the government receive any profits made off it.

“Intelligence information should protect our nation, not provide personal profit,” G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said in a statement. “This lawsuit will ensure that Edward Snowden receives no monetary benefits from breaching the trust placed in him.” 

Snowden fled to Russia to avoid prosecution in the U.S. over his disclosures. He still faces charges for leaking the classified information.