video transcript

ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION STORY: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said on Monday (June 24) that Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who is wanted by the U.S. government for his role in revealing details of a secret American surveillance program, is "healthy and safe" after departing Hong Kong for a destination that, to the dismay of American authorities, is still not entirely clear. Snowden had filed an application for political asylum in Ecuador and Assange said that application was under consideration by the government of Ecuador President Rafael Correa. Assange said WikiLeaks was aiding Snowden with legal advice. Assange was speaking on a telephone conference call from inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has taken asylum from an arrest warrant issued by Sweden on sexual assault charges. He would not reveal details of Snowden's travel itinerary nor his intended destination. "Due to the bellicose threats coming from the U.S. administration, we cannot go into further details at this time," Assange said.