U.S. House Security Committee: Snowden was a disgruntled employee

In a summary of a confidential report by the U.S. House Committee on Security regarding Edward Snowden, a former employee of the National Security Agency (NSA), he is described as a "disgruntled employee" who "was not fundamentally seeking to leak" documents related to extensive surveillance. Edward Snowden, a former contractor for the NSA, revealed documents in 2013 showing that the agency engaged in widespread monitoring and control of conversations and internet networks. This led to widespread reactions and protests in the U.S. and globally, including from Washington's allies. The U.S. is seeking to arrest Snowden, who is currently a refugee in Russia, claiming he has "done nothing wrong" and that these "leaks" were made in defense of democracy and civil rights. The 36-page report by the House Committee on Security, which took two years to prepare, is confidential, but a summary was released on September 16. The summary states that he was "a disgruntled employee who repeatedly clashed with his employers and had been reprimanded by his managers two weeks before he illegally copied classified documents." According to the House Committee, Edward Snowden "did not raise his concerns (before copying) with any supervisory authority" and should not be considered someone who is legally protected and fundamentally seeking to leak information. The summary also mentions that he "manipulated his professional evaluation documents and exaggerated his resume to apply for a new job." He is also accused of cheating on an exam. The report states that Snowden used his network administrator privileges to search the drives of his colleagues. Devin Nunes, the chairman of the House Security Committee, stated, "Edward Snowden was not a hero, but a traitor who knowingly committed treason against his country and colleagues." This report comes as several non-governmental organizations and well-known figures in the U.S. political and social scene have urged President Barack Obama to grant clemency to Snowden. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, in collaboration with the Civil Liberties Union, have launched a campaign titled "Pardon Snowden." Bernie Sanders, a rival of Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary for the presidential election, has also supported this campaign. U.S. officials say that Edward Snowden has endangered U.S. national security by leaking classified documents and should be prosecuted.