Action Quote by Edward Snowden
![“The chairs [in Congress] are part of the "Gang of Eight." They get briefed on every covert-action program and everything like that. They know where all the bodies are buried. At the same time, they get far more campaign donations than anybody else from defense contractors, from intelligence…” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4ca/edward-snowden-555_action_the-chairs-in-congress-are-part-of-the-g_2259782.jpg)
“The chairs [in Congress] are part of the "Gang of Eight." They get briefed on every covert-action program and everything like that. They know where all the bodies are buried. At the same time, they get far more campaign donations than anybody else from defense contractors, from intelligence corporations, from private military companies.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Guardian, 2013
The secretive group in Congress receives detailed intelligence briefings and massive defense industry donations, creating a conflict of interest.
In simple terms: Congress members get secret info and big defense money, leading to potential bias.
Key Takeaway
Beware of power and money mixing.
Themes
politics
conflict of interest
transparency
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
analytical
explanatory
When to use this quote
- policy making
- public oversight
- media reporting
Key Concepts
surveillance
campaign finance
military‑industrial complex
Questions to Reflect On
- How does secret briefings affect democratic accountability?
- What safeguards could reduce undue influence?
A Different Perspective
Influence may be harder to detect than overt corruption.
![“[Brazil] went to the UN and said, "We need new standards for this." We need to take a look at what they're calling "data sovereignty."” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/af7/edward-snowden-555_brazil_brazil-went-to-the-un-and-said-we-need-n_14906.jpg)
![“There was a real choice when [Barack Obama] became president. It was a very difficult choice - to say, "We're not going to hold senior officials to account with the same laws that every other citizen in the country is held to," or "This is a nation that believes in the rule of law."” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/104/edward-snowden-555_accounts_there-was-a-real-choice-when-barack-obam_27838.jpg)
