Prosecutors said Sterling gave reporter James Risen information about a classified operation to hand over intentionally misleading blueprints for its nuclear program to the Iranian government. Such information was part of Risen’s 2006 book State of War.
Both the Bush and Obama administrations subpoenaed Risen in an effort to get him to reveal Sterling’s identity, but he refused to testify to divulge his sources. Prosecutors eventually dropped their efforts to force Risen’s testimony.
US district judge Leonie M Brinkema said Sterling is free on bond until his sentencing hearing on 24 April.
Sterling’s disclosure led to the end of the operation and put lives at risk, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors said that Sterling handed over this information to get back at the intelligence agency after being fired in the early 2000s. Sterling denies that he ever gave this information to Risen and said his source could have been other US officials briefed on the operation.
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