Ex-CIA Agent John Kiriakou, Accused of Leaks, Has Subpoenaed Journalists: Who Are They?

de Wikileads | Firedoglake de Kevin Gosztola

John Kiriakou interviewed by Truthout's Jason Leopold/Flickr Photo by Truthout.org

Ex-CIA agent John Kiriakou, who blew the whistle on torture authorized by the administration of President George W. Bush, is accused of leaking classified information to journalists on the identities of a “covert CIA officer” and details on the other role of “another CIA employee in classified activities.” He was indicted in April on charges that included one count of violating the Intelligence Identities Protection Act, three counts of violating the Espionage Act and one count for “allegedly lying to the Publications Review Board of the CIA” so he could include classified information in his book.
In a latest development in the case, Kiriakou’s defense is pushing for classified information on the CIA’s capture of alleged al Qaeda operative, Abu Zubaydah. It also is seeking testimony from journalists on the “leaks” and “jury emails,” which detail the “CIA’s unsuccessful requests to stop the New York Times from publishing an article that named one of the exposed operatives,” according to the Associated Press.
The defense filed a motion on October 9 indicating it would like to depose three journalists. It notes, “The disclosures alleged in Counts 1 through 4 of the lndictment relate to Mr. Kiriakou’s purported discussions with Journalist A and Journalist B or Researcher 1, regarding the identity and/or association of two individuals–Covert Officer A and Officer B to the Rendition, Detention, and Interrogation Program (the “RDI Program”).”
Also, the motion makes the factual argument that “no record of interviews or any other statements to the government by Journalist A, Journalist B or Researcher 1” have been produced for the defense nor has the government provided any “context for the overall scheme or process,” which Kiriakou “allegedly disclosed” information. Particularly, there is no information in discovery evidence that has been provided to the defense on whether the journalists had “independent sources for the classified information.”
The motion shows that the defense wanted to subpoena three journalists. Who are they?
Jesselyn Radack of the Government Accountability Project has written about the case. On April 9 of this year, in a guest post for then-Salon columnist Glenn Greenwald, she wrote Matthew Cole of ABC News is “Journalist A” and “Journalist B” is Scott Shane of the New York Times.
On October 10, Radack sent a message on Twitter indicating two journalists had been subpoenaed. [cont'd.]