Brazil: Greenwald’s Partner Was Detained ‘Without Justification’

Glenn Greenwald, a reporter of The Guardian newspaper, speaks during an interview in Hong Kong Monday, June 10, 2013. Greenwald reported a 29-year-old contractor who claims to have worked at the National Security Age... Glenn Greenwald, a reporter of The Guardian newspaper, speaks during an interview in Hong Kong Monday, June 10, 2013. Greenwald reported a 29-year-old contractor who claims to have worked at the National Security Agency and the CIA allowed himself to be revealed Sunday as the source of disclosures about the U.S. government's secret surveillance programs, risking prosecution by the U.S. government. MORE LESS

By Tom Kludt

August 19, 2013 5:48 a.m.

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The Brazilian government issued a rebuke Sunday after David Miranda, the partner of Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald, was detained and held for almost nine hours at London’s Heathrow Airport.

The 28-year-old Miranda, a Brazilian citizen, was traveling Sunday from London to his home in Brazil after he visited Germany to meet with Laura Poitras, the documentarian who worked with Greenwald in reporting the stories on the National Security Agency’s surveillance program. The Guardian confirmed that it paid for Miranda’s travels, though it is still unclear if he has a role with the newspaper.

Brazil’s statement:

The Brazilian government expresses grave concern about the episode that happened today in London, where a Brazilian citizen was held without communication at Heathrow airport for 9 hours, in an action based in the British anti-terrorism legislation. This measure is without justification since it involves an individual against whom there are no charges that can legitimate the use of that legislation. The Brazilian Government expects that incidents such as the one that happened to the Brazilian citizen today do not repeat.

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Tom Kludt (@TomKludt) Tom Kludt is a reporter for Talking Points Memo based in New York City, covering media and national affairs. Originally from South Dakota, Tom joined TPM as an intern in late-2011 and became a staff member during the 2012 election. He can be reached at tom@talkingpointsmemo.com.

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