Photo Gallery Harassing the Messenger
David Miranda's detention at Heathrow earlier this week appears to be just the latest attempt by British intelligence authorities to pressure the Guardian into ceasing its reporting on British and American surveillance activities. The paper itself has been visited by agents and forced to destroy hard drives.
White House deputy press secretary Josh Earnest said that the US was not involved in the apprehension and interrogation of David Miranda, partner of Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald, at Heathrow earlier this week. The US had reportedly been notified prior to Miranda's detention.
Miranda and Greenwald at the airport in Rio de Janeiro, where they live. Following Miranda's interrogation by British authorities, Greenwald said that new revelations about NSA and GCHQ communications surveillance activities would soon be forthcoming.
Greenwald picked up his partner on Monday at the airport in Rio. The incident shows the degree to which Britain appears willing to go to intimidate those reporting on web surveillance. Miranda is not a reporter for the Guardian.
Greenwald has been at the center of the NSA scandal since it started, having broken the story in June.
David Miranda speaking to the media upon his arrival in Rio on Monday. British authorities confiscated mobile phones, a laptop, a camera and other equipment from Miranda.
Miranda was interrogated under a law meant to aid the pursuit of terrorists.
The material Greenwald is reporting on stems from former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who is currently in Russia.
