WASHINGTON — An ex-CIA officer involved in a classified clandestine operation involving Iran was arrested Thursday in St. Louis on charges of leaking classified information to a reporter, the Justice Department announced.
Jeffrey A. Sterling, 43, of O’Fallon, Mo., was charged with six counts of unauthorized disclosure of national defense information, and one count each of unlawful retention of national defense information, mail fraud, unauthorized conveyance of government property and obstruction of justice, authorities said. The indictment was unsealed in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va.
The indictment does not mention the reporter’s name, but the Washington Post, citing former U.S. intelligence officials and attorneys familiar with the case, said it was award winning New York Times reporter James Risen, author of a 2006 book “Star of War.”
Sterling’s attorney denied the allegations, according to the Washington Post.
“He has always maintained his innocence throughout the course of this entire investigation,” said Edward B. MacMahon Jr. “We’ll seek to prove that in court.”
To read the Justice Department press release click here.
