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Clapper refers to Snowden 'accomplices'

In a statement seemingly directed at journalists, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper on Wednesday called on NSA leaker Edward Snowden and his "accomplices" to return the rest of the documents in their possession.

“Snowden claims that he’s won and that his mission is accomplished. If that is so, I call on him and his accomplices to facilitate the return of the remaining stolen documents that have not yet been exposed to prevent even more damage to U.S. security,” Clapper said at a Senate hearing.

Clapper did not specify who he considered Snowden’s “accomplices," but in statements to the media, DNI spokesperson Shawn Turner said he was referring "to anyone who is assisting Snowden to further threaten our national security through the unauthorized disclosure of stolen documents related to lawful foreign intelligence collection programs.”

In a blog post, Glenn Greenwald, the journalist who has been working most closely with Snowden, said such a statement, if directed toward journalists, was "stunning and extremist."

"Is it now the official view of the Obama administration that these journalists and media outlets are 'accomplices' in what they regard as Snowden's crimes?" Greenwald asked. "If so, that is a rather stunning and extremist statement."

Greenwald also wrote that there is no evidence Snowden had any help copying and removing documents, and provided links to interviews with officials who said as much to Reuters and the New York Times.

The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Guardian and ProPublica have also published some of the Snowden documents, and are believed to have more.