Cantor says House to investigate Edward Snowden over leaks

House committees will soon begin a series of "serious" investigation into the former security contractor who leaked secret information about the National Security Agency's surveillance program, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said on Monday.

During an interview on CBS' "This Morning," Cantor said there was still much unknown about the legality involving how 29-year-old former Booz Allen contractor Edward Snowden leaked classified documents to the Guardian newspaper before fleeing for Hong Kong.

"You have to sort of step back and ask yourself, there are legal avenues for an individual who is concerned about the violations of civil liberties to go about addressing those concerns through the inspector general process, coming forward, asking for whistle-blower protection, going to the courts, coming to Congress," Cantor said.

Based on secret documents provided by Snowden, the Guardian revealed details about the NSA surveillance programs last week.

Cantor added that House lawmakers would receive briefings this week about Snowden's role in leaking the information.

"Certainly the reports seem to indicate that, that if anyone were to violate the law by releasing classified information outside the legal avenues, certainly that individual should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," he said.