US sues ex-NSA employee Edward Snowden over new book

WASHINGTON

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Edward Snowden for violating non-disclosure agreements he signed with the CIA and as a contractor with the National Security Agency.

A new book by Snowden's, Permanent Record, was published Tuesday by Macmillan Publishers.

"The lawsuit alleges that Snowden published his book without submitting it to the agencies for pre-publication review, in violation of his express obligations under the agreements he signed," the department said in a statement.

The lawsuit contends Snowden gave public speeches on intelligence-related matters, which the U.S. said violated non-disclosure agreements.

The U.S. does not seek to stop or restrict the publication or distribution of Permanent Record, according to the statement.

"The government seeks to recover all proceeds earned by Snowden because of his failure to submit his publication for pre-publication review in violation of his alleged contractual and fiduciary obligations," it added.

The publisher is also being sued so that no funds are transferred to the former CIA employee and contractor for the NSA.

"Intelligence information should protect our nation, not provide personal profit," said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. "This lawsuit will ensure that Edward Snowden receives no monetary benefits from breaching the trust placed in him."

Snowden, who leaked thousands of documents detailing a long-term surveillance program by the U.S. government, was granted asylum by Russia in 2013 after he was charged with espionage.

His residence permit in Russia was extended until 2020.