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A former CIA officer was charged by the U.S. Department of Justice on Monday for leaking classified information to journalists on several occasions.
John Kiriakou, who was with the intelligence agency from 1990 to 2004, “intentionally disclosed information identifying [a] covert agent to an individual not authorized to receive classified information,” according to the Justice Department’s complaint.
Specifically, he gave the information to journalists about CIA employees and their involvement with the organization, including the identities of agents involved in capturing and interrogating alleged terrorists.
According to the complaint, one of the CIA agents whose information was divulged was involved in capturing top al-Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah.
The Justice Department said that Kiriakou, 47, leaked information to journalists that led to a later security breach at the Guantanamo Bay prison.
He faces two counts of violating the Espionage Act for disclosing information regarding U.S. national security and one count of making a false statement to the CIA.
