NEW YORK (AP) — The father of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden is castigating lawmakers who voted this week to spare a government surveillance program his son exposed.
On NBC's "Today" show Friday, Lon Snowden said there's been a concerted effort by some members of Congress to "demonize" his son. He says lawmakers should be more focused on whether the NSA's collection of the phone records of millions of Americans is constitutional.
The House voted 217-205 Wednesday to spare the NSA surveillance program.
Snowden is believed to have been staying at the Moscow airport transit zone since last month. He has applied for temporary asylum.
Snowden says he has not had any recent direct contact with his son. But he says he's proud of him for sharing "the truth with the American people."
