Edward Snowden, the man behind leaks exposing America’s secretive Internet surveillance programmes, was fired on Tuesday by the consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton for violating the company’s code of ethics.
“Booz Allen can confirm that Edward Snowden, 29, was an employee of our firm for less than 3 months, assigned to a team in Hawaii. Snowden, who had a salary at the rate of $122,000, was terminated June 10, 2013 for violations of the firm’s code of ethics and firm policy,” the company said in a statement.
“News reports that this individual has claimed to have leaked classified information are shocking, and if accurate, this action represents a grave violation of the code of conduct and core values of our firm. We will work closely with our clients and authorities in their investigation of this matter,” it said.