This Is How A Police State Protects “Secrets” - Marcy Wheeler/Salon

[JonLP24]

33. They absolutely can

they have also absolutely reached a verdict on people who were 100% innocent as well. A lot of the theory, which they argued is full of assumptions and maybe the specific crime is real but a lot of the theory is bullshit. Even if they have a lot of hard evidence they still use a story and they are allowed to tell a story, but it doesn't mean the assumptions aren't wrong though.

The government’s efforts to identify Risen’s source was unusually aggressive by any measure, lasting more than six years. It stems from what was deemed to be damaging disclosures in Risen’s 2006 book “State of War,” which included a chapter about a CIA program called “Operation Merlin.” Risen described it as a botched attempt under the Clinton administration to sabotage Iran’s nuclear program by feeding the Iranians deliberately flawed design blueprints for key nuclear components. But according to Risen’s book, the Iranians uncovered the scheme and the effort ended up accelerating Iran’s nuclear program.
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/41787944/ns/us_news-security/#.VMmOTckXEtQ

Again, if this was foolish and the CIA has been known to make foolish mistakes such as their recent plan to arm Syrian rebels it certainly merits concern so I don't care if what he reveals is legal or illegal -- I don't think the government does either. They would have charged him anyways.