U.S.

Exclusive: Edward Snowden on the man who inspired his work

NSA whistleblower tells AJ+, ‘If there hadn’t been a Thomas Drake, there couldn’t have been an Edward Snowden’

Exclusive video provided by former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor turned whistleblower Edward Snowden kicks off AJ+’s interactive documentary project “Meet Thomas Drake.”

Drake, a former senior executive at the NSA, blew the whistle on waste, fraud and abuse at the agency and was subsequently charged under the Espionage Act by Barack Obama’s administration. Drake’s story is more relevant than ever in light of current discussions about whistleblowing and mass surveillance in the United States. His experience provides context for Snowden’s case, giving an insider’s view of the agency for which Snowden worked and shedding light on why he chose the path he did.

For more videos and data, see the interactive project below:

Related News

Find Al Jazeera America on your TV

Get email updates from Al Jazeera America

Sign up for our weekly newsletter

Related

Get email updates from Al Jazeera America

Sign up for our weekly newsletter