You've read 9 articles this month

TPM is funded overwhelmingly by readers’ membership fees. More than 91% of our revenue is derived from memberships and reader contributions. The rest comes from advertising. As a fully independent organization, TPM has no corporate overlords. TPM is not beholden to or controlled by any outside interests. TPM was founded by a journalist and to this day its “business” side is staffed with former journalists whose primary mission is to create a sustainable environment for our reporters and editors to do great work.

Want better media? Support a better media company

  • Reader-funded
  • Unionized
  • Mission-driven

Leaker Of Secret Report On Russian Hacking Faces Possibly Historically Harsh Sentencing

AUGUSTA, GA - JUNE 8: Reality Winner exits the Augusta Courthouse June 8, 2017 in Augusta, Georgia. Winner is an intelligence industry contractor accused of leaking National Security Agency (NSA) documents. (Photo by... AUGUSTA, GA - JUNE 8: Reality Winner exits the Augusta Courthouse June 8, 2017 in Augusta, Georgia. Winner is an intelligence industry contractor accused of leaking National Security Agency (NSA) documents. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia woman who leaked a secret report on Russian hacking of U.S. voting systems could get a tough sentence.

Reality Winner was preparing to face a judge Thursday in Augusta, Georgia.

Prosecutors recommended five years and three months, which would be the longest sentence ever given for a federal crime involving leaks to the news media.

The 26-year-old former National Security Agency contractor pleaded guilty in June to copying a classified U.S. report and mailing it to an unidentified news organization.

Her arrest was announced the same day The Intercept reported on a secret NSA document. It detailed Russian government efforts to penetrate a Florida-based supplier of voting software and the accounts of election officials ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

U.S. intelligence agencies later confirmed Russian meddling.

Latest News
9
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. We can’t have the truth getting out! This administration has had over $120 million available to fight cyber interference in our elections and hasn’t spent a dime of it since 2016. The girl deserves a medal.

  2. If I-1 wants to pardon someone… (ijs)
    And yeah, she deserves a medal!

  3. Avatar for ljb860 ljb860 says:

    'Merican justice, shoot the messenger…yea, some jail time but not max+.

  4. Here’s a better representation of who she is:

    And yes, she’s a veteran, recipient of the Air Force Commendation Medal.

    What the government is doing to her, and people like her, is sickening.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

3 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for fess Avatar for cervantes Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for ljb860 Avatar for c_stedman Avatar for hallowseve31 Avatar for dicktater

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher & Digital Producer:
Senior Developer:
Senior Designer: