Justice Department officials on Monday began the process of filing charges against defense contractor Edward Snowden, the man claiming responsibility for the leak of classified documents about National Security Agency surveillance programs, according to the New York Times.
An official told the Times that there is “no hesitation” in charging Snowden, who may still be hiding out in Hong Kong. The Times wrote that the charges “would strengthen the Justice Department’s hand if it tries to extradite him to the United States.”
