RICHMOND, Va., Nov. 6 (UPI) -- A former CIA employee says he doesn't want to wait on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on a reporter's privilege to be tried on charges of leaking national secrets.
Jeffrey Sterling's trial has been delayed since 2011 as New York Times reporter James Risen appeals a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that he must reveal his source for confidential information published in the book, "State of War," Courthouse News Service reported Tuesday.
Sterling is accused of leaking information to Risen about a botched CIA plan to have a former Russian scientist pass fake nuclear blueprints to Iran.
Risen has asked the appeals court to stay its ruling while he takes his case to the Supreme Court.
Sterling, who has pleaded not guilty to the leaking charges, is opposed to the stay.
"It is Mr. Sterling who is the defendant in this matter and his right to have this case resolved should trump Mr. Risen's plainly sincere interest in further delay," Sterling said a brief to the Fourth Circuit filed by his attorney, Edward McMahon Jr.
Sterling has lost his job and has faced the threat of prison since his arrest four years ago, the brief added.
"Simply put, Mr. Sterling wants this case to be tried and resolved so that he can get on with his life," McMahon said.
