US Air Force sees no wrongdoing by Booz Allen in Snowden matter
The US Air Force said it saw no evidence that a defence contractor that employed Edward Snowden is responsible for his disclosure of classified US information, a finding that allows the company to continue doing business with the Pentagon.
Snowden, who is wanted in the United States on espionage charges, revealed details of secret government surveillance programmes. He is believed to be holed up in the transit area at a Moscow airport, where he arrived on June 23 from Hong Kong.
The Air Force said Booz Allen Hamilton, also known as BAH, notified it about the Snowden case as required under an administrative agreement signed after another ethics lapse last year.
“At this time ... there is no evidence that at the time of Mr Snowden’s misconduct, BAH knew or should have known, approved or acquiesced in Snowden’s misconduct,” an Air Force official said.
At this time ... there is no evidence that at the time of Mr Snowden’s misconduct, BAH knew or should have known, approved or acquiesced in Snowden’s misconduct
“There is no evidence that the Snowden matter constitutes a reoccurrence of the practices that led to the Air Force proposing BAH for debarment,” the official said. “To date, the Air Force ... is satisfied with BAH’s efforts to improve it ethics and compliance programs, and its internal controls.”