It was his duty to leak files?
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usgate0601,0,4272762.story?coll=ny-top-headlines
EXCERPT
Felt was initially adamant about remaining silent on the subject, thinking disclosures about his past somehow dishonorable.
"I don't think (being Deep Throat) was anything to be proud of," Felt indicated to his son, Mark Jr., at one point, according to the article. "You (should) not leak information to anyone."
He didn't leak files, nothing tangible at all, just words. He actually gave Woodward very little primary information, serving instead to confirm or deny information that Woodward brought to him. He is portrayed as a career government man frightened and very troubled by what he knows of the corruption, yet unable to do more than give Woodward cryptic clues about what was going on.