Ex-CIA agent John Kiriakou, who blew the whistle on torture authorized by the administration of President George W. Bush, is accused of leaking classified information to journalists on the identities of a “covert CIA officer” and details on the other role of “another CIA employee in classified activities.” He was indicted in April on charges that included one count of violating the Intelligence Identities Protection Act, three counts of violating the Espionage Act and one count for “allegedly lying to the Publications Review Board of the CIA” so he could include classified information in his book.

In a latest development in the case, Kiriakou’s defense is pushing for classified information on the CIA’s capture of alleged al Qaeda operative, Abu Zubaydah. It also is seeking testimony from journalists on the “leaks” and “jury emails,” which detail the “CIA’s unsuccessful requests to stop the New York Times from publishing an article that named one of the exposed operatives.”

Attorney General Eric Holder appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, June 12, for a Justice Department oversight hearing. With politicians in a frenzy over leaking by the Obama administration, Holder was forced multiple times to defend and explain his plan to investigate and get to the bottom of the leaks. Republican senators took issue with Holder’s plan to have two US attorneys linked to the Justice Department investigate the leak when leaks likely came from the Justice Department.