The Republican head of the House Intelligence Committee continues a campaign to paint NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden as a Russian spy. Speaking to NBC’s Meet the Press, Congressmember Mike Rogers claimed everyone in the U.S. intelligence community believes Snowden is “under the influence” of Russian agents. Rogers also attemped to link Snowden to Russia’s interference in Ukraine.
Rep. Mike Rogers: “We know today no counterintelligence official in the United States does not believe that Mr. Snowden, the NSA contractor, is not under the influence of Russian intelligence services. We believe he is. I certainly believe he is today. … I do believe there’s more to this story. He is under the influence of Russian intelligence officials today. He is actually supporting, in an odd way, this very activity of brazen brutality and expansionism of Russia. He needs to understand that. And I think Americans need to understand that. We need to put it in proper context.”
Rogers has yet to offer any evidence to back up his claims that Snowden spied for Moscow. Snowden remains in Russia after failing to win asylum in several other countries.