After he seemed to express support for Edward Snowden in an interview earlier this week, Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) sought to clarify Thursday how he really feels about the National Security Agency leaker.
Lewis said in a statement (posted below) that reports of his interview with The Guardian were “misleading” and that he does not agree “with what Mr. Snowden did.” In the interview, the civil rights icon appeared to suggest that Snowden’s actions were “in keeping with the teaching of Henry David Thoreau and people like Gandhi and others.”
But Lewis said Snowden is no Gandhi or Thoreau, and pointed out that The Guardian later removed the word “praised” from its headline for the interview.
“News reports about my interview with The Guardian are misleading, and they do not reflect my complete opinion. Let me be clear. I do not agree with what Mr. Snowden did. He has damaged American international relations and compromised our national security. He leaked classified information and may have jeopardized human lives. That must be condemned.
“ I never praised Mr. Snowden or said his actions rise to those of Mohandas Gandhi or other civil rights leaders. In fact, The Guardian itself agreed to retract the word “praise” from its headline.
“At the end of an interview about the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, I was asked what I thought about Mr. Snowden’s actions. I said he has a right as an individual to act according to the dictates of his conscience, but he must be prepared to pay the price for taking that action. In the movement, we were arrested, we went to jail, we were prepared to pay the price, even lose our lives if necessary. I cannot say and I did not say that what Mr. Snowden did is right. Others will be the judge of that.”
