A federal judge sentenced former US security officer Reality Winner to more than five years in prison after admitting he gave a media report on Russian meddling in US elections.
Winner, 26, who has spent almost two years in prison, has pleaded guilty to having passed the National Security Agency report to The Intercept in the 2016.
During a hearing in Winner's hometown of Augusta, Georgia, Judge James Hall approved his lawyers' request for a 63-month sentence followed by a three-year supervised release, attorney Nichols said. It was the longest sentence ever handed down to anyone for illegally leaking government information, according to Nichols.
"The ruling and the attached plea deal both reflect that Reality recognizes that actions have consequences and that it has learned from its mistake and is ready to accept the consequences of its actions," Winner's attorneys said in a statement.
Judge Hall has also agreed to have Winner transferred to a federal prison in Fort Worth, Texas, where he could receive medical services and be closer to his family.
Federal prosecutors said his sentence of more than five years was appropriate because Winner betrayed the trust of his colleagues and his country.
Winner had worked with Pluribus International Corp, a company that provides analytical services for US defense and intelligence agencies.
The NSA document contained technical details of what was said to be Russian attempts to influence US election officials and a voting company before the November 2016 presidential election, two US officials said they know the case.
Winner admitted that he intentionally printed a copy of the intelligence report in his office and mailed it. She was indicted on a single federal charge of retention and intentional transmission of national defense information, a crime under the espionage and censorship law that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Betsy Reed, editor-in-chief of The Intercept, said Winner should be honored, and that her conviction and other prosecutions against whistleblowers were attacks on free speech and the press.
"Instead of being recognized as a conscience-led whistleblower whose disclosure helped protect the elections in the United States, Winner was vigorously pursued by the Justice Department."
A federal judge ordered Winner to be withheld from any ties because prosecutors fear further leaks after viewing the “disturbing” comments in her notebook.
In a section Winner wrote: "I want to burn the White House" then the investigators also found the names of three Islamic extremists already known to the federal authorities.
Reuters