“Just like the CIA primary mission is to protect the Agency, the New York Time primary mission is to protect the Time. And so when this hit the fan — so to speak — Jeffrey was on his own.”
Former CIA John Kiriakou
Former CIA John Kiriakou
September 24 2016 — Jeffrey Alexander Sterling is an American lawyer and former CIA employee who was arrested, charged, and convicted of violating the Espionage Act for revealing details about Operation Merlin to journalist James Risen. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY
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UPDATE (September 24 2018) — On January 16 2018, Jeffrey Sterling was released from prison to a halfway house, ahead of the original end date of his 3.5 year prison sentence on June 14, 2018.
Now that my suspicions regarding the true story of the CIA debacle in China have been confirmed, I believe that one should be very careful about the official narrative of this case. Keep in mind that there was no direct evidence against Sterling, only “metadata”.
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According to a friend who is in contact with Sterling, his health is better and home confinement is finally over. So, the Sterlings are re-building their life. Jeffrey has been invited to speak in Europe but, of course, he must first apply for a permission to travel abroad.
End of UPDATE
Dubious Case — The reporter, James Risen, refused to identify his sources, and Holly maintains her husband’s innocence saying:
“Special Agent Ashley Hunt on cross-examine stated that fact, that there was absolutely no email records, no phone call records; no one had witnessed the two being together exchanging classified information.”
Instead, she [Holly Sterling] believes his incarceration is due to politics within the CIA that may be race related. Jeffrey filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against the CIA in 2000, but the issue was squashed in 2005 when:
“the government invoked state secrecy privilege stating that he could not have his day in court because it would be too detrimental and they would have to expose state secrets for Jeffrey to prove he had been discriminated against.”
The New York Time — According to Kiriakou, ‘”he New York Time really had an opportunity to rally support around Jeffrey Sterling and instead they circled the wagon around James Risen.”
TIMELINE
Jeffrey Alexander Sterling is an American lawyer and former CIA employee who was arrested, charged, and convicted of violating the Espionage Act for revealing details about Operation Merlin to journalist James Risen. Sterling denies the charges.
The case against him is circumstantial. (There is evidence that Sterling and Risen have called each other. Risen has of course dozens of contacts at the CIA.)
Sterling joined the CIA on May 14, 1993. In 1995, he became operations officer in the Iran task force of the CIA’s Near East and South Asia division.
On December 22, 2010, U.S. attorney Neil H. MacBride filed an indictment against Jeffrey Alexander Sterling on the Unlawful Retention and Unauthorized Disclosure of National Defense Information, Mail Fraud, Unauthorized Conveyance of Government Property, and Obstruction of Justice. Sterling was arrested on January 6, 2011.
Sterling was convicted of espionage charges on January 26, 2015
On 11 May 2015, Sterling was sentenced to 3½ years in prison and thus set for release in 2018.
On August 11 2016, Jeffrey Sterling filed a health complaint against Colorado federal correctional institution.
December 2016 — Jeffrey’s appellate hearing took place in early December 2016. “His attorneys did a phenomenal job and there were some pointed questions asked by at least one judge.”
On June 22 2017, a three-judge panel with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit upheld all but one of Sterling’s convictions.
On January 16 2018, Jeffrey Sterling was released from prison to a halfway house.
On February 14 2018, Jeffrey Sterling was sent now home for the rest of his sentence.
INTERVIEW
REFERENCES
CIA whistleblower Jeffrey Sterling not receiving lifesaving healthcare in prison (VIDEO)
I Was a CIA Whistleblower. Now I’m a Black Inmate. Here’s How I See American Racism. The Intercept Sept. 13 2016
Appeals Court Scrutinizes Ex-CIA Officer’s Leak Conviction — ABC News
Appeals court affirms most convictions of ex-CIA officer convicted in leak case — WaPo
In Opinion Mostly Rejecting Jeffrey Sterling Appeal, Fourth Circuit Criminalizes Unclassified Tips — emptywheel
Jeffrey Sterling, Convicted of Leaking About Botched CIA Program, Has Been Released From Prison — The Intercept
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Former CIA John Kiriakou Explains The Jeffrey Sterling Case (VIDEO)
One Year Ago –Former CIA John Kiriakou Explains The Jeffrey Sterling Case (VIDEO)
Two Years Ago — Former CIA John Kiriakou Explains The Jeffrey Sterling Case (VIDEO)
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