The Leaker at the CIA

An interesting few days -- first the Pulitzer Committee thumbed its collective nose at the nation and awarded prizes to reporters who compromised national security; then, in short order, the CIA fired one of its employees, Mary McCarthy, after discovering she leaked classified information to the press.

One can only hope that federal charges will be imminent. The New York Times, in the article at the subject link, (hopefully?) suggests that Justice Department lawyers interviewed thought McCarthy's termination could mean she would be spared criminal prosecution. I fail to see any logic in the notion that being fired is a "get out of jail free card" for someone who has leaked classified information to the press.

Fox News, on the other hand, quoted "a senior law enforcement official" as saying that "if the person admitted to leaking classified information," as apparently happened in this case, "it would be almost negligent not to prosecute them for breaking the law." Exactly.

McCarthy was a Clinton appointee who worked for Sandy "docs in his socks" Berger; she was also a financial supporter of John Kerry, which adds additional questions regarding her motivations to damage the Bush Administration's prosecution of the War on Terror.

Ed Morrissey has a fascinating post at Captain's Quarters speculating about how McCarthy may have been caught. What if it turns out that the Washington Post's Dana Priest won her Pulitzer for a story that was actually fabricated to catch leakers?

Further details at The Strata-Sphere here and here.