C.I.A. Officer in Leak Case, Jeffrey Sterling, Is Convicted of Espionage

[DonViejo]

Source: New York Times

Jeffrey A. Sterling, a former Central Intelligence Agency officer, was convicted of espionage charges Monday, according to The Associated Press, for telling a journalist for The New York Times about a secret operation to disrupt Iran’s nuclear program.

The conviction is a significant victory for the Obama administration, which has led an unprecedented crackdown on officials who speak to journalists about security matters without the administration’s approval. Prosecutors prevailed after a yearslong fight in which the journalist, James Risen, refused to identify his sources.

The case revolved around a C.I.A. operation in which a former Russian scientist provided Iran with intentionally flawed nuclear component schematics. Mr. Risen revealed the operation in his 2006 book “State of War,” describing it as a mismanaged, potentially reckless mission that may have inadvertently aided the Iranian nuclear program.

Mr. Sterling faces years in prison.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/27/us/politics/cia-officer-in-leak-case-jeffrey-sterling-is-convicted-of-espionage.html?emc=edit_na_20150126

[Blue_Tires]

1. As expected, once one actually looks at the case against Sterling...

(of course if Barrett Brown is any indication, DUers by and large don't read case documents)

And they did it without needing Risen on the stand...Win-win all around...

[msanthrope]

7. Yep--it was a good conviction. He wasn't a whistleblower but a malcontent who was pissed that

his shakedown attempts didn't work.

And Risen left enough breadcrumbs to help convict him.

Sterling should have remembered what Risen did to Wen Ho Lee.

[2banon]

2. As expected.. so unfortunate.

but there ya have it.

[FairWinds]

3. While David Petraeus walks the streets . .

along with Scooter Libby, Richard Armitage, and many
other leakers from the national security elite.
The "rule of law" is nothing but a bad joke.

[Autumn]

4. Dick Cheney and his man scooter run free. Any chance on a prosecution there?

Didn't think so. Yay justUS.

[blackspade]

5. What a crock of shit.

Never mind the war criminals walking free....

[msanthrope]

6. Good. nt

[1Greensix]

8. Espionage?

The government should have to prove that Espionage is due to the payment or allegiance to a foreign government, and not sharing information to a news person. That's a bullshit conviction, but after the last thirty years not unexpected. I have no idea why this country has become so radically right wing, but it is quickly heading either to a dictatorship of some sort, or it will break into two or more countries. No one trusts the government anymore. The middle class and poor know the government is completely owned by a few rich and powerful white men bent on an oligarchy, or dictatorship. The KOCH brothers daddy was part of one of those parties a number of years ago and their family would love to OWN THE REST OF US. Cheney and Bush should be in prison, along with Bush Sr, for his involvement with the assassination of President Kennedy.

[Adrahil]

10. Wait... What?

The guy released secret information about an operation that was perfectly legitimate. How is that not a crime? How is that "right wing?"

[elias49]

9. Don't come home Edward Snowden.

You won't get justice here in the good old USA.

[Adrahil]

11. What was so unjust in this case? n/t

[elias49]

12. Unless I misread it, Sterling revealed something

that was over and done with. History, as it were.
The government's ability to classify anything they want regardless of merit, deprives the public certain realities.
No sunshine in THIS big house! It burns like sunlight on a vampire.
There will be no whistleblowers
There will be no dissent
There will be no personal privacy
There will be no justice on the streets

Comply or suffer.

[Adrahil]

13. Classified information has a declassify date.

By law, those dates must be reviewed and updated.

Mr. Sterling decided to release that information long before a declassify date, potentially putting assets still in place at risk, or rendering useless effective methods.

He's a criminal. Good conviction.

[elias49]

14. Operative word: "potentially"

Intelligence agencies appear to have absolute discretion, which can change based on circumstances.
They were embarrassed - you embarrass the guys in charge, you get screwed, and truth be damned.