May 9, 2019 - Economy

Intelligence analyst charged for leaking to Intercept reporter

Orion Rummler

This image is a close-up of the Department of Justice seal. — Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Former intelligence analyst Daniel Everette Hale was indicted for allegedly providing classified documents related to drone warfare to a reporter in 2014 while working at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Descriptions of that reporter match Jeremy Scahill, a founding editor of the Intercept, the Washington Post reports.

Why it matters: This is at least the third time an Intercept source has been arrested for leaking classified documents. NSA contractor Reality Winner leaked a classified NSA document on Russian meddling in the U.S. election to The Intercept in 2017, while ex-FBI agent Terry Albury was arrested in 2018 for leaking documents about the bureau's informant recruiting.. These arrests underscore the risk posed to sources involved in national security stories.

Details: The indictment alleges that Hale began communicating with the reporter in 2013 while enlisted in the Air Force and assigned to the NSA, and that he shared documents Scahill used an Intercept series called "The Drone Papers."

Hale was charged under the Espionage Act with theft of government property, obtaining national defense information and disclosure of classified communications intelligence information, among other charges. He was arrested Thursday morning ahead of his federal court appearance.

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Intelligence analyst charged for leaking to Intercept reporter

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