The consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton issued a statement Tuesday confirming that Edward Snowden, 29, was an employee of the firm for less than 3 months, assigned to a team in Hawaii.

The statement says Snowden had a salary rate of $122,000 -- and was terminated Monday "for violations of the firm's code of ethics and firm policy."

Snowden, a former technical analyst for the CIA, revealed Sunday that he was the source of leaks detailing surveillance efforts involving National Security Agency collection of phone and Internet data. He has said he is hiding in Hong Kong.

In an interview with The Guardian last week, Snowden described a comfortable lifestyle and $200,000 salary from Booz Allen, of McLean, Va., and a home in Hawaii that he shared with a girlfriend. He told the paper his main fear was the U.S. government would come after his family, his friends and his partner.

"I can't in good conscience allow the U.S. government to destroy privacy, Internet freedom and basic liberties for people around the world with this massive surveillance machine they're secretly building," Snowden told the Guardian.

The Booz Allen statement also says:

"News reports that this individual has claimed to have leaked classified information are shocking, and if accurate, this action represents a grave violation of the code of conduct and core values of our firm. We will work closely with our clients and authorities in their investigation of this matter."