The notorious computer hacker who alerted authorities to the impending disclosure of tens of thousands of classified documents said that despite death threats, he would do it again.

Adrian Lamo, 29, said U.S. Army Pfc. Bradley Manning contacted him in May seeking help in publicizing a massive “war diary” of classified information regarding the war in Afghanistan. Lamo went to the Pentagon instead to report the breach.

The information eventually turned up Sunday on Wikileaks, a website that publishes anonymous submissions of sensitive information.

Lamo’s whistleblowing was an ironic position for a man who has had his own problems with the U.S. government following what he called “an act of conscience.”
Lamo was convicted in 2003 of hacking into the New York Times computer network and was placed on probation. Lamo said he broke into the Times’ network to expose its vulnerability.

Lamo believes Manning discovered him through his previous anti-establishment activity and his support for Wikileaks.

“I support Wikileaks as an institution,” Lamo told News10. “I have for a long time. I’ve donated money to them. I’ve evangelized for them.”

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