Ex-CIA man likely to plead guilty in leak case

My Fox Spokane Biz
Ex-CIA man likely to plead guilty in leak case

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - A former CIA officer accused of leaking the names of covert operatives to journalists is expected to enter a guilty plea.

A change of plea hearing has been scheduled Tuesday in federal court in Alexandria for John Kiriakou (keer-ee-AH-koo). Kiriakou had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges that he disclosed the names of two covert CIA operatives.

The change of plea comes shortly after Kiriakou lost a key pre-trial ruling.

A judge last week ruled that prosecutors would not have to prove that Kiriakou actually intended to harm the U.S. by allegedly leaking the identities.

Instead, they would only have to show that Kiriakou had "reason to believe" that the information could be used to injure the U.S.

Prosecutors declined comment Monday on the apparent plea deal.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Most Popular Stories

Protesters chant 'Stop the IRS' in Cincinnati

Protesters chant 'Stop the IRS' in Cincinnati
By DAN SEWELLAssociated Press CINCINNATI (AP) - Tea party activists waving flags and signs, singing patriotic songs and chanting anti-IRS slogans protested outside federal buildings across the country Tuesday to protest the agency's extra scrutiny of conservative groups. A crowd packed the

WATCH LIVE: Clay Starbuck Trial Happening Now; Accused Of Murdering His Ex Wife

WATCH LIVE: Clay Starbuck Trial Happening Now; Accused Of Murdering His Ex Wife
SPOKANE, Wash. – The trial of Clay Starbuck, charged with killing his ex-wife Chanin and sexually violating her remains, entered its third week Monday at the Spokane County Courthouse. Chanin Starbuck was found strangled to death in her Deer Park home in December of 2011, and Clay

Small Fla. city anxious to learn jackpot winner

Small Fla. city anxious to learn jackpot winner
By TAMARA LUSH and BARBARA RODRIGUEZAssociated Press ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. (AP) - It could be an anxious wait of up to two months for people in a small Florida city to find out who won the highest Powerball jackpot in history: an estimated $590.5 million. The lucky ticket was bought sometime Saturday