Whistleblower ‘man of conviction’

THE father of Edward Snowden’s girlfriend has described the US National Security Agency whistleblower as a shy and reserved man with convictions, but said he’s “still shocked” by the news that he had leaked details of secret surveillance programme.

Jonathan Mills spoke outside his home in Laurel, Maryland, saying that his daughter, Lindsay Mills, was holding on amid the national controversy.

“He’s always had strong convictions of right and wrong, and it kind of makes sense. But I’m still shocked,” Mills said.

Snowden has identified himself as the person who leaked details of a secret NSA surveillance programme.

Lindsay Mills, a dancer and acrobat, was identified as his girlfriend this week.

She wrote on her blog that she was “lost at sea” and “adrift” after he left.

Snowden had told The Guardian newspaper that he told his girlfriend that he was going away for a couple of weeks for work.

He said she had no knowledge of his plans to leak the details of covert monitoring of phone calls and internet use by the US government.

Jonathan Mills said he had texted his daughter, who had dated Snowden for four or five years, but did not say where she was. Asked if he had a message for Snowden, he said: “Just wish him good luck and he’s got my love.”

Snowden fled to Hong Kong in the hope of escaping criminal charges. He has since gone to ground.