Former FBI agent to plead guilty in leak

A former FBI agent who leaked information about a failed bombing attempt to the Associated Press, has agreed to plead guilty and serve 43 months in prison.

Donald Sachtleben, a former bomb technician, used his security clearance in 2012 to gather information on a bomb made by al-Qaida and intercepted by the United States.

As it turned out, the bomb was designed by al-Qaida's master bomb maker, but the U.S. had turned a would-be suicide bomber into a double agent. Sachtleben's leak blew the agent's cover.

“This prosecution demonstrates our deep resolve to hold accountable anyone who would violate their solemn duty to protect our nation’s secrets and to prevent future, potentially devastating leaks by those who would wantonly ignore their obligations to safeguard classified information,” said Ronald Machen, the United States attorney for the District of Columbia, who was assigned to lead the investigation by Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.

The filing was submitted to the Justice Department last Thursday but released Monday.

Donald Sachtleben pleads guilty to AP leak