Glenn Greenwald Going Rogue, Leaving The Guardian

Journalist Glenn Greenwald is leaving The Guardian to open his own shop, after breaking one of the year’s biggest political stories worldwide.

Glenn Greenwald gave the scoop on his new career move to BuzzFeed, explaining that while he loved working with the British paper, an offer he was unable to refuse cropped up.

Greenwald, a lawyer and bold political writer, sent a statement to the up-and-coming political muckrakers at the hybrid site dishing on his new venture, and he began:

“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.”

It would seem no animosity is behind Greenwald’s new move, and he adds that he was conflicted about the decision — but ultimately had no choice but to take the as of yet not described opportunity:

“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.”

A spokeswoman for The Guardian tells BuzzFeed that the paper is indeed sad to lose Greenwald, echoing the assertion that the break was not acrimonious, as well as the notion that whatever the journalist is moving on to is a thing few would let pass by:

“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.”

He tweeted:

My statement and the Guardian’s

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) October 15, 2013

You can read Glenn Greenwald’s full statement on leaving The Guardian here.