UPDATE: Edward Snowden To Leave Moscow, Russia For Ecuador
UPDATE: WikiLeaks Statement On Edward Snowden
Edward Snowden, according to CNN just now, the former NSA contractor charged with espionage, theft, and conversion of government property, left Hong Kong today, Sunday, on his own accord for an undiclosed third country and “through a lawful and normal channel,” the Hong Kong government said.
Snowden is reportedly on his way to this “third country” via Moscow. Some reports have the “third country” as Iceland, others report Venezuela.
What “through a lawful and normal channel,” means would appear to translate to his being extradited – perhaps to Iceland.
U.S. federal prosecutors have charged Snowden with theft of government property, unauthorized communication of national defense information, and willful communication of classified communications intelligence to an unauthorized person.
The latter two allegations amount to espionage under the federal Espionage Act.
Reports were that a Wikileaks member had a plane in Hong Kong and ready to leave for Iceland if it would accept him.
Stay tuned.