Snowden journalist Glenn Greenwald quits the Guardian for 'momentous new venture'

In a statement, he said: “My partnership with the Guardian has been extremely fruitful and fulfilling: I have high regard for the editors and journalists with whom I worked and am incredibly proud of what we achieved.

“The decision to leave was not an easy one, but I was presented with a once-in-a-career dream journalistic opportunity that no journalist could possibly decline.

“Because this news leaked before we were prepared to announce it, I'm not yet able to provide any details of this momentous new venture, but it will be unveiled very shortly.”

Greenwald found himself in the headlines in August after his partner, David Miranda, was detained for almost nine hours under the Terrorism Act at Heathrow Airport. Miranda had been on his way home to Rio de Janeiro, where he lives with Greenwald, after a trip to Berlin to exchange documents with film maker Laura Poitras, who worked closely with Greenwald on the Snowden revelations about the NSA and surveillance tactics.

The Guardian said in a statement: “Glenn Greenwald is a remarkable journalist and it has been fantastic working with him. Our work together over the last year has demonstrated the crucial role that responsible investigative journalism can play in holding those in power to account.

“We are of course disappointed by Glenn’s decision to move on, but can appreciate the attraction of the new role he has been offered. We wish him all the best.”