'Post' Editor Hits 'Criminalization' of Leaks to Media Len Downie

AP ^ | 04/22/06 | AP

[Pikamax]

'Post' Editor Hits 'Criminalization' of Leaks to Media Len Downie

Published: April 22, 2006 10:45 AM ET

WASHINGTON The CIA fired a top intelligence analyst who admitted leaking classified information that led to a Pulitzer Prize-winning story about a network of secret CIA prisons, government officials say. The officer was a senior analyst nearing retirement, Mary McCarthy, The Associated Press learned. Reached Friday evening at home, her husband had no comment.

The Post's Dana Priest won a Pulitzer Prize this week for her reporting on a covert prison system set up by the CIA after Sept. 11, 2001, that at various times included sites in eight countries. The story caused an international uproar, and government officials have said it did significant damage to relationships between the U.S. and allied intelligence agencies.

Post Executive Editor Leonard Downie Jr. said on the newspaper's website: "We don't know the details of why (the CIA employee) was fired, so I can't comment on that. But as a general principle, obviously I am opposed to criminalizing the dissemination of government information to the press."

It was unclear if Priest or any other reporters who spoke to McCarthy would be brought into an investigation. Post spokesman Eric Grant said no reporter at the paper had been subpoenaed or had spoken to investigators about the matter.

Downie said people who provide citizens the information they need to hold their government accountable should not "come to harm for that....

"The reporting that Dana did was very important accountability reporting about how the CIA and the rest of the U.S. government have been conducting the war on terror," Downie said. "Whether or not the actions of the CIA or other agencies have interfered with anyone's civil liberties is important information for Americans to know and is an important part of our jobs."

Almost immediately, the firing turned political. Senate Intelligence Committee chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., praised the agency for identifying a source of the leaks and encouraged vigorous investigation of other open cases. "Those guilty of improperly disclosing classified information should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Roberts said.

Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., called on President Bush to hold accountable those in his administration who leaked information about the Iraq intelligence in the run-up to the war and outed undercover CIA operative Valerie Plame. "Apparently, President Bush doesn't believe what's good for the CIA is good for the White House," Menendez said.

In McCarthy's final position at the CIA, she was assigned to its Office of Inspector General, looking into allegations the CIA was involved in torture at Iraqi prisons, according to a former colleague who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case is under investigation.

Without identifying McCarthy by name, CIA Director Porter Goss announced the firing in a brief message to agency employees circulated Thursday. Such dismissals are highly unusual.

Agency spokesman Paul Gimigliano confirmed an officer had been fired for having unauthorized contacts with the media and disclosing classified information to reporters, including details about intelligence operations.

"The officer has acknowledged unauthorized discussions with the media and the unauthorized sharing of classified information," Gimigliano said. "That is a violation of the secrecy agreement that everyone signs as a condition of employment with the CIA."

Citing the Privacy Act, the CIA would not disclose any details about the officer's identity, assignments or what she might have told the news media. A law enforcement official confirmed there was a criminal leaks investigation underway, but it did not involve the fired CIA officer.

The official said the CIA officer had provided information that contributed to a Washington Post story last year disclosing secret U.S. prisons in Eastern Europe. The law enforcement official spoke only on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the matter.

Goss has pressed for aggressive probes about leaked information.

"The damage has been very severe to our capabilities to carry out our mission," Goss told Congress in February, adding that a federal grand jury should be impaneled to determine "who is leaking this information."

On Friday, another government official, also speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information, said the fired officer had failed a lie-detector test.

It was not clear if the person was taking a routine polygraph examination, as is required periodically of employees with access to classified information, or if the test was among those ordered by Goss to find leakers inside the agency.

Justice Department officials declined to comment publicly on the firing and whether the matter had been referred to federal prosecutors for possible criminal charges.

One law enforcement official said there were dozens of leak investigations underway. Another said there had been no referral from the CIA involving the fired employee, normally a precursor to a criminal investigation.

Both spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter is under investigation.

[Always Right]

Yeah, let's not criminalized treason....

[lexington minuteman 1775]

She should be trid for treason. We are in a war Mary. But you are a Clintonoid and probably feel you were doing your civic duty. You should spend the rest of your life at Leavenworth instead of some beach in Hawaii for your retirement!

[kjo]

So, see if I get this right: Scooter Libby should go to prison for leaking the name of Plame, but Mary McCarthy was doing nothing but good in feeding the WaPo top secret information. Scooter is a criminal but Mary is a heroine.

Something of a double standard here?

[Dog]

It is finally sinking in...hey MSM...you screwed yourself.

[John Jorsett]

I was reading one blog which was speculating that the Eastern Europe prison allegations were a plant by the CIA to smoke out the leaker. It said no one has been able to find any evidence that such prisons ever existed.

[USS Alaska]

This is for her treason.

[Mad Dawg]

She;s a Clintonista. When she signs an agreement, it means absolutely nothing whatsoever. That's the bottom line here. She sits at our table, eats our bread, and then stabs us in the back. But that's what being a Democrat is all about. Look a Jimmuh, look at Gore, and Kerry, and Clintoon" If they're not holding the reins they eagerly go abroad to slander us and talk us down before our enemies.

If there's anyone her from DU, I effing defy you to contradict that. You can't! Modern Democrats will turn to treason in a heartbeat if it suits their political purposes.

McLellan in 1864, the entire Democrat party now.

[prophetic]

We are in a war Mary. But you are a Clintonoid and probably feel you were doing your civic duty.

The Democraps idea of civic duty is just about anything to screw a Republican President so that the democraps can get a upper hand.

[msnimje]

The fact that no government agency in Europe has been able to even confirm the existence of any of these prisons seems to be of little concern to the press.

They are going to look even more stupid if they find out their Pulitzer Prize winning story was planted to ferret out leakers in the CIA.

[Waco]

Well, now that we all can pick and choose which laws to obey,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[demkicker]

One law enforcement official said there were dozens of leak investigations underway. Another said there had been no referral from the CIA involving the fired employee, normally a precursor to a criminal investigation.

This editor is really stupid to not realize by now that this was a sting operation to catch treasonous leakers of classified information. I really do hope this is the first of many more. Round 'em up and lock 'em down.

[NormsRevenge]

Downie said people who provide citizens the information they need to hold their government accountable should not "come to harm for that....

---


sigh...

[Publius6961]

The officer was a senior analyst nearing retirement, Mary McCarthy, The Associated Press learned. Reached Friday evening at home, her husband had no comment.

A wise decision, since dismissal and forfeiture of all retirement pay is the least punishment treason deserves in the time of war, no matter how noble (or political) the intent.

I had despaired at the thought that "treason" was a concept that no longer existed...

[Publius6961]

It said no one has been able to find any evidence that such prisons ever existed.

All the more reason for that mental midget McCarthy to have kept her mouth shut.

The humor is that a planted story might have won the Pulitzer prize... which says a lot about the political imbeciles awarding the prizes...

[Eric in the Ozarks]

AP still overlooks the obvious.

[SandRat]

The Washington Pissed er,... Post Editor needs to learn is that access to classified information is granted after an extensive background investigation and then a security clearance level appropriate to the security level that the individual will need to do their job is granted. But the task isn't done yet. The individual must then be formally briefed on the proper safeguarding of the information at that level and sign even more documents attesting to their understanding of the restrictions that come with the clearance level as well as the ramifications of making unauthorized disclosures of classified information. Then they are allowed to see only that information specifically need called need to know to do their job at the security access level that they have been granted. The levies on the individual are not done yet for every year they must undergo refresher training on protecting classified information and the ramifications of unauthorized disclosure and the hammering in again of the meaning of need to know. Depending on the security clearance level granted the individual goes through the whole process again every 5 or ten years.

In all the time since 1972 that I've held a security clearance I have never, let me repeat that NEVER once seen anything where the "Pressies" have either the appropriate security level or the critical need to know.

So, to the Editor you are wrong! FLAT WRONG!

Here's hoping that for your involvement in this affair of without proper authorization receiving and disclosing classified information you get to enjoy as a prisoner bagging groceries, cutting the grass, shoveling the snow, cutting and delivering firewood, repairing shoes, repairing office furniture, all at the Fort Leavenworth Federal Prison.

[RobbyS]

Careful about the word" treason." that is defined by the constitution. This is only sedition: acting by illegal means to bring down a legal government.

[Doctor Raoul]

They say, "No Reporter Is Illegal"

I say deport them too!

[Siena Dreaming]

it did significant damage to relationships between the U.S. and allied intelligence agencies.

Our allies won't be so free to trust our CIA people now.

Nice going McCarthy.