Edward Snowden did a Reddit AMA on Monday with the Oscar-winning filmmakers of CitizenFour, the documentary about the whistleblower.
Among the questions he answered are his regrets, rumors of him being a Russian spy and even what he thought of Neil Patrick Harris’ ‘treason’ joke.
Snowden insisted his only regret in leaking classified U.S. information while working for the Central Intelligence Agency is not coming “forward sooner.”
"Had I come forward a little sooner, these programs would have been a little less entrenched, and those abusing them would have felt a little less familiar with and accustomed to the exercise of those powers,” he said. “Once you grant the government some new power or authority, it becomes exponentially more difficult to roll it back. Don't let it happen in your country.”
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The Independent reports Snowden also denied being a Russian spy – he currently lives in Russia, where he was granted asylum – asking “If I were a spy for the russians, why the hell was I trapped in any airport for a month? I would have gotten a parade and a medal instead."
About Oscar host Neil Patrick Harris’ joke that he "couldn't be here tonight, for some treason,” he said he thought it was funny. "To be honest, I laughed at NPH,” he wrote.
“I don't think it was meant as a political statement, but even if it was, that's not so bad," he said. "My perspective is if you're not willing to be called a few names to help out your country, you don't care enough."
image via Jennifer Graylock/INFphoto.com
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