Former CIA officer accused of revealing classified information

John Kiriakou, a former CIA officer, has pleaded guilty to revealing classified information to reporters, the identity of a covert intelligence officer.

The Justice Department has revealed that Kiriakou also admitted to other allegations; that he illegally told reporters the name of a different CIA employee involved in a 2002 operation to capture alleged al Qaeda terrorist Abu Zubaydah, and that he lied to a review board about a book he was writing.

Kiriakou accepted a plea bargain with prosecutors; he pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, to the charge that he illegally revealed the covert intelligence officer’s name. The plea did not include Kiriakou’s subsequent two admission.

Presiding Judge, Leonie Brinkema accepted a plea agreement between Kiriakou and prosecutors, however, sentencing will take place January 25, 2013. Kiriakou further agreed to relinquish his pension rights, though his wife will still be eligible to receive it if the attorney general concludes she has cooperated fully with the case.