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Showing Original Post only (View all)President Obama Indicts Sixth Whistleblower Under the Espionage Act [View all]
Obama Indicts Sixth Whistleblower Under the Espionage Act
by Dylan Blaylock
April 5, 2012
On April 3, 2012, the Obama administration indicted intelligence whistleblower John Kiriakou. Kiriakou is the sixth whistleblower that the Obama administration has charged under the Espionage Act for the alleged mishandling of classified information more than all past administrations combined. In a rare move, the indictment was sealed until today.
Kiriakou is a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) veteran who headed counterterrorism operations in Pakistan after 9/11, organized the team operation that captured suspected al-Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah, and refused to be trained in torture interrogation tactics. In December 2007, Kiriakou gave an on-camera interview to ABC News in which he disclosed that Zubaydah was "waterboarded" and that "waterboarding" was torture. Kiriakou was one of the first CIA officers to label waterboarding as torture, and his interview helped expose the CIA's torture program as policy, rather than the actions of a few rogue agents. Kiriakou further exposed the CIA's torture program and the CIA's deception about torture even to its own employees in his 2009 book, The Reluctant Spy: My Secret Life in the CIA's War on Terror.
Government Accountability Project (GAP) National Security & Human Rights Director Jesselyn Radack, a Department of Justice (DOJ) whistleblower herself, represented National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower Thomas Drake, the first individual indicted by the Obama administration under the Espionage Act for disclosing massive waste, fraud, abuse and illegality at the NSA through proper channels. The DOJ case against Drake fell apart days before the trial was set to begin last summer, in what was widely seen as a bellwether case for future prosecutions, like that of Kiriakou.
"John Kiriakou is the new Thomas Drake," stated Radack, continuing, "And the case against Kiriakou is just as flimsy as the one against Drake. The Obama administration's unprecedented use of the Espionage Act to target whistleblowers sends a chilling message to any national security worker considering blowing the whistle on corruption and wrongdoing. The Espionage Act is an archaic World War I-era law intended to go after spies, not whistleblowers."
Read the full article at:
http://www.whistleblower.org/blog/42-2012/1893-obama-indicts-sixth-whistleblower-under-the-espionage-act
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National Whistleblowers Center (NWC) Condemns CIA Whistleblower Indictment
by Owen Dunn
April 6, 2012
The Department of Justices policy of distorting privacy laws to pursue and discredit whistleblowers continues. The Associated Press reported yesterday that a former CIA officer, John Kiriakou, is being charged with leaking classified information after publicly expressing concerns over the use of torture during interrogations.
In the indictment, the DOJ argues that because the interrogation operation fell within the scope of a CIA counterterrorism program, all details are therefore critical national defense information. Using this type of circular logic and vague, umbrella terminology is now standard practice for the Department of Justice as it works to hide serious legal and ethical allegations, including those made by Mr. Kiriakou in this case.
Stephen M. Kohn, Executive Director of the National Whistleblowers Center, stated:
We condemn Mr. Kiriakous indictment. The First Amendment means what it says; freedom of speech exists in the United States regardless of the wishes of extremists at the DOJ and CIA who are using outrageous charges to attack whistleblowers. These charges should be dropped immediately, and an investigation should instead be made into those responsible for them.
http://www.whistleblowersblog.org/2012/04/articles/whistleblowers-government-empl/terrorism/nwc-condemns-cia-whistleblower-indictment/
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President Obama Indicts Sixth Whistleblower Under the Espionage Act [View all]
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
OP
If we knew all of the dirty "war" secrets we'd be inclined to oppose military adventures abroad.
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#5
They classify millions of documents that have nothing to do with the security of the nation.
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#19
You're giving a perfect example of "whistleblowers" who are wrong about what they're leaking.
jeff47
Apr 2012
#113
No, it doesn't. We're talking about a situation where a whistleblower wants to leak. (nt)
jeff47
Apr 2012
#116
I don't think that information about possible crimes by members of our government
JDPriestly
Apr 2012
#32
When "Enhanced interrogation techniques" were approved, and no successful challenge has been brought
jeff47
Apr 2012
#201
Unfortunately, "enhanced interrogation" was rule legal, and nobody's successfully challenged that.
jeff47
Apr 2012
#122
How was torture ruled legal? Are we still part of the civilized world which signed
sabrina 1
Apr 2012
#162
so when international crimes are committed, one should be quiet and "obey the law"?
robinlynne
Apr 2012
#83
But prosecuting whistleblowers under the Espionage IS unprecedented ...
markpkessinger
Apr 2012
#147
I think for two reasons. 1. They leaked classified information. And 2., the MIC
RKP5637
Apr 2012
#12
Title of thread refers to Obama's actions, not Bush. Held for political effect. Indicted now for
freshwest
Apr 2012
#55
President Obama can direct the DOJ to not prosecute whistleblowers .... unless he's a weak and
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#43
I want the Obama administration to not charge whistleblowers with espionage!
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#61
Are you the Amazing Kreskin? You know that is what he wants? Really? How do you explain
Dragonfli
Apr 2012
#76
That's how I remember it, Dragonfli. All of a sudden we're not supposed to care
sabrina 1
Apr 2012
#160
So you can use english, just in a very limited way it would appear. At least it's a start.
Dragonfli
Apr 2012
#104
So do you favor charging whistleblowers with espionage? Please try to stay on topic. Thanks.
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#108
He seems to be pretty good at ignoring torture and the prosecution of torturers.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Apr 2012
#80
So you think Obama should concentrate DOJ resources on medical pot dispensaries and whistleblowers.
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#134
I don't want him to and I really wish he wouldn't when it comes to civil liberties.
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#109
But, when done by the CIA murdererers and torturers, it's protected by our government.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Apr 2012
#151
I certainly would prefer to vote for someone more progressive than Obama, but I am
teddy51
Apr 2012
#17
Somehow this story will end up in the bullshit half truth folder like many other Obama
uponit7771
Apr 2012
#27
expect a mighty and angry populace to arise this summer who is sick of wars, corruption
xiamiam
Apr 2012
#52
so sick of that ridiculous remark..on iggy for anyone who chooses that as their defense fyi..nt
xiamiam
Apr 2012
#53
You are a partisan? To what party do you belong, what state do you vote primary in? /nt
Dragonfli
Apr 2012
#77
Right. Obama knows nothing about these prosecutions. If he did, he'd stop them!
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#62
So, you are suggesting that the President should interfere with Justice Dept. prosecutions?
Freddie Stubbs
Apr 2012
#91
YES! EXACTLY! ALL Presidents indicate their priorities to the Justice Department.
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#94
The Justice Department can reset its priorities and decide it doesn't have a firm "espionage" case
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#95
It's just a few, actually, the same few all the time. I am grateful to them because
sabrina 1
Apr 2012
#191
Exposing torture is a crime..torturing or enabling torture isn't. Especially in campaign season.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Apr 2012
#66
Exposing torture is a crime..torturing or enabling torture isn't. Especially in campaign season.
druidity33
Apr 2012
#128
...this, plus the continued war on Legalized Marijuana Dispensaries are some of the more infuriating
truebrit71
Apr 2012
#75
ACLU: In 2009 the Obama administration made 54 million decisions to classify government documents!
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#86
maybe the real story should be: the high crimes they didn't bother to even investigate
G_j
Apr 2012
#101
There is a series of articles published daily by paid operatives trying to suppress the vote.
NYC_SKP
Apr 2012
#133
What's strange is some of those same paid operatives used to post anti-Bush articles..
Fumesucker
Apr 2012
#136
Of course anyone who isn't deliriously happy with Obama is a right wing agitator.
Fumesucker
Apr 2012
#161
Well, it's possible these posters are left wing agitators like that person...
joshcryer
Apr 2012
#167
Sort by replies. A lot of us post uncontroversial stuff that drops thanks to derision.
joshcryer
Apr 2012
#181
The ones I see doing the most damage to DU are those who constantly try to put a positive spin..
Fumesucker
Apr 2012
#182
And yet you see a reason for attacking good DUers who don't march in lockstep
brentspeak
Apr 2012
#175
So you are claiming that my posted article is written by a paid Republican operative
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#145
Expect a silent chorus of crickets..but more accusations of disloyalty for not toeing the party line
Tierra_y_Libertad
Apr 2012
#150
I strongly disagree with your assertion that critics of the Administration are paid disruptors.
Leopolds Ghost
Apr 2012
#203
For opposing it and helping to expose it with super secret documents! Throw the key away!
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#166
How much hard labor time do you think this lefty liberal should get?
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#171
John Kiriakou lied about how many times Zubaydah was waterboarded. He's no lefty.
joshcryer
Apr 2012
#173
So you believe he engaged in espionage on behalf of what nation or terrorist group?
Better Believe It
Apr 2012
#196