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| Former NSA exec charged with leak to NYT |
| 2010-04-15 |
| A former senior executive with the National Security Agency has been indicted on 10 felony charges related to the leaking of classified information to a national newspaper in 2006 and 2007, the Justice Department announced Thursday morning. Thomas A. Drake, 52, headed an office in the NSA's Signals Intelligence Directorate at Fort Meade between 2001 and 2005, and continued to work with the agency as a high-ranking contractor through 2008, U.S. officials said. The indictment alleges that Drake exchanged hundreds of e-mails with an unidentified reporter for a national newspaper and served as a source for its articles about Bush administration intelligence policies between February 2006 and November 2007, U.S. officials said. Drake was indicted by a federal grand jury in Maryland, the Justice Department said. Drake has been charged with willful retention of classified information, obstruction of justice and making false statements, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer said. "Our national security demands that the sort of conduct alleged here -- violating the government's trust by illegally retaining and disclosing classified information -- be prosecuted and prosecuted vigorously," Breuer said. |
| Posted by:Nimble Spemble |
| #11 my guess is he was about to release classified info that would embarrass 0bama admin and the NYT dropped the dime... cant talk about the release that would embarrass the one, so we dredge up the old stuff that lets the rubes revisit the 'hate bush' days and punish Drake at the same time for his 'loyalty issues' |
| Posted by: abu do you love 2010-04-15 23:09 |
| #10 The DOJ actually DOING something? The DoJ acted for the simple reason that, if this guy released classified information while Bush was in office, then it's highly likely he'd do the same to Obama. Besides, finding the guy's body in Fort Marcy Park would be too... coincidental. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2010-04-15 21:42 |
| #9 #7 Hang him. He compromised methods & sources and endangered lives. Posted by: MobileOldSpook I have to disagree with you on this one, OldSpook. Hangin's too good for him. He should receive 30 lashes with a barbed wire whip for each life he has endangered. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2010-04-15 20:47 |
| #8 Manolo! To the Hamptons!! And step on it!!! |
| Posted by: Pinchy 2010-04-15 15:53 |
| #7 Hang him. He compromised methods & sources and endangered lives. |
| Posted by: MobileOldSpook 2010-04-15 15:49 |
| #6 Especially since the NYT's is looking to disclose the identities of Force Protection contractors in Afghanistan. |
| Posted by: tipover 2010-04-15 15:33 |
| #5 Actually the NYT is not even mentioned in the indictment. But we all know which newspaper it was. It will be interesting to see how long they tip toe around it. Because if they convict this guy and it does come out at trial that it was the NYT they are going to have a hard time not going after the NYT employees who received and passed on the classified data. And that's the last thing bambi wants to do to his BFF Pinch. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2010-04-15 15:11 |
| #4 So why isn't the NYT or its reporter charged with conspiracy? One thing at a time, Matt. Without the conviction of Mr. Drake, who's to say any crime was convicted to arrest the journalist for? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2010-04-15 14:30 |
| #3 A word to the rest of the puzzle palace misfits. Don't expect General Alexander to look the other way. Enjoy the polygraphs and extensive periodic reinvestigations. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-04-15 14:29 |
| #2 OK. So why isn't the NYT or its reporter charged with conspiracy? |
| Posted by: Matt 2010-04-15 14:23 |
| #1 Shock. The DOJ actually DOING something? Seriously, shock! Maybe all is not lost in DOJ-land. |
| Posted by: Whiskey Mike 2010-04-15 14:16 |