NYT Reporter Subpoenaed in CIA Leak Case

Phone, bank, travel records seized in CIA leak investigation

(NEWSER) - Federal investigators spied extensively on New York Times reporter James Risen in their effort to discover who leaked details to him of the CIA's attempt to pass faulty nuclear information to Iran. The depth of this spying was revealed yesterday, in the criminal trial of his alleged source, former CIA officer Jeffrey Sterling, Politico reports. A defense motion revealed that investigators had spied on Risen’s bank and credit records, and gathered info on his phone calls and travel plans. More»

Jeffrey Sterling allegedly leaked details of spy war with Iran

(NEWSER) - A former CIA officer has been arrested and charged with leaking classified information to a New York Times reporter. Jeffrey Sterling, 43, was nabbed yesterday, and is being held through the weekend because the government has declared him dangerous. The indictment didn’t say what he’d leaked, but connecting the dots, the AP is confident the case revolves around leaks used in James Risen’s 2006 book State of War, which covered the CIA’s espionage campaign against Iran. More»

Lead investigator will probe only a handful of cases

(NEWSER) - Eric Holder continues to take heavy flak from critics who think he should leave the CIA alone, and the Washington Post has news that should give them at least a bit of satisfaction: The Justice Department's preliminary investigation will be smaller than anticipated. The lead investigator will look at only a handful of cases of suspected mistreatment of detainees, sources tell the paper. More»

Eric Holder carves a new, powerful role as attorney general

(NEWSER) - The appointment of a federal prosecutor to investigate CIA interrogations exposed a long-running turf war between the intelligence agency and the Department of Justice—and demonstrated the substantial clout of AG Eric Holder, who prevailed in almost every dispute with CIA Director Leon Panetta. The New York Times and Washington Post both chart the push-pull leading up to this week's announcement, which began when Justice released largely unredacted memos authorizing waterboarding and other forms of torture. More»

(NEWSER) - The White House was busily waging a do-or-die battle to pass health reform when it was suddenly handed exactly what it wanted to avoid: a polarizing battle about Bush-era tactics that President Obama has already condemned. Obama is attempting to remain above the fray as the administration insists that AG Eric Holder is acting independently. But keeping the president out of the line of fire won't be easy, reports the Los Angeles Times. More»