NYT Reporter James Risen Refuses to Answer Questions in CIA Leak Case

A New York Times reporter is providing little assistance to prosecutors as they put a former CIA officer on trial for allegedly leaking classified information about a botched operation in Iran.

Journalist James Risen testified Monday at an unusual pretrial hearing in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, where ex-CIA officer Jeffrey Sterling goes on trial next week on charges he illegally leaked national security information to Risen that the journalist used in his 2006 book, "State of War."

For years, Risen has been resisting efforts to compel his testimony, citing an obligation to protect the confidentiality of his sources. Ultimately, a federal appeals court ruled that Risen must testify.

Monday's hearing was designed to determine what exactly would be asked of Risen if he's called as a prosecution witness. The Justice Department, under pressure from free-press advocates, had previously said it would not press Risen on whether Sterling was his confidential source, and would limit its questions.

NY Times