'It's still a capital crime': Ex-CIA head James Woolsey said he'd like to watch Edward Snowden be hanged for treason
- James Woolsey said on Thursday that Edward Snowden is partly responsible for the Paris terror attacks that left at least 132 dead last week
- He said Snowden's 2013 leak was 'substantial' and that he should be given the death sentence
- Woolsey's comments echoed current CIA Director John Brennan's sentiments from earlier this week
- Brennan said 'unauthorized disclosures' such as the Snowden leaks have made it 'much more difficult' to track down terrorists
A former CIA director claims that Edward Snowden should be 'hanged by the neck' in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks.
James Woolsey said on Thursday that Snowden, a former NSA contractor who leaked confidential information in 2013, should be convicted of treason.
'It's still a capital crime, and I would give him the death sentence, and I would prefer to see him hanged by the neck until he's dead, rather than merely electrocuted,' Woolsey told CNN.
Scroll down for video
Former CIA Director James Woolsey said on Thursday that Edward Snowden, a former NSA contractor who leaked confidential information in 2013, should be hanged for treason
Snowden fled the country after stealing classified information and disclosing the extent of US surveillance programs. He currently resides in Russia, where he has been granted temporary asylum.
Woolsey said that Snowden (pictured) is partly responsible for the terror attacks in Paris that killed at least 132 people last week
The former CIA head said Snowden is partly responsible for the Paris attacks that left at least 132 dead and hundreds of people injured last week.
'I think the blood of a lot of these French young people is on his hands,' Woolsey, who served as the head of the CIA from 1993 to 1995, said.
He added that Snowden's leak was 'substantial'.
'They turned loose not only material about some procedural aspects of something, they turned loose, for example, some substantial material about the Mexican intelligence service and law enforcement working together against human trafficking,' he told CNN of the leak.
Woolsey's comments echoed current CIA Director John Brennan's sentiments from earlier this week, when Brennan said 'unauthorized disclosures' such as the Snowden leaks have made it 'much more difficult' to track down terrorists.
'I think any unauthorized disclosures made by individuals that have dishonored the oath of office, that they have raised their hand and attested to, undermines this nation's security,' Brennan said about Snowden at the Overseas Security Advisory Council's annual meeting on Wednesday.
Brennan added that ISIS has clearly 'gone to school on what they need to do in order to keep their activities concealed from the authorities.'
While Brennan didn't mention Snowden by name, he has been highly critical of the leaks in the past, calling them 'outrageous' and adding '[he] has hurt this country and has helped our enemies'.
Current CIA Director John Brennan said earlier this week that 'unauthorized disclosures' like Snowden's leaks have made it 'much more difficult' to track down terrorists
Most watched News videos
- Moment suspect is arrested after hospital knife rampage in China
- IDF troops enter Gazan side of Rafah Crossing with flag flying
- Emmanuel Macron hosts Xi Jinping for state dinner at Elysee palace
- Harry arrives at Invictus Games event after flying back to the UK
- Guy Monson last spotted attending Princess Diana's statue unveiling
- Chaos in UK airports as nationwide IT system crashes causing delays
- Ship Ahoy! Danish royals embark on a yacht tour to Sweden and Norway
- Moment Kadyrov 'struggles to climb stairs' at Putin's inauguration
- Victim of Tinder fraudster felt like her 'world was falling apart'
- Aid trucks line up in Rafah as Israel takes control of crossing
- 'I am deeply concerned': PM Rishi Sunak on the situation in Rafah
- Deliveroo customer calls for jail after rider bit off his thumb