RSF Press Conference - Holly Sterling Speaks Out

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is cosponsoring a press conference with Holly Sterling, wife of imprisoned CIA whistleblower Jeffrey Sterling.

Thursday, October 15 at 9:30 am  
National Press Club, Zenger Room
529 14th Street, NW, 13th Floor, Washington, DC 20045

RSF is deeply concerned by the precedent set in the United States' government's case against Jeffrey Sterling, a former C.I.A. operative convicted under the Espionage Act of allegedly divulging classified information to New York Times reporter James Risen. Jeffrey Sterling is now in jail for merely talking to a journalist regularly. He was sentenced based only on circumstantial evidence. He began serving his three and a half year prison sentence this June. 

This news conference will be the first time the spouse of a CIA whistleblower has made such an appearance.  

Read RSF's statement on Jeffrey Sterling's case here.

Opening remarks will be given by National Press Club President John Hughes

Speakers include:
Thomas Drake
Delphine Halgand
Ray McGovern
and Jesselyn Radack.

Thomas Drake is a former senior executive at the National Security Agency where he blew the whistle on massive multi-billion dollar fraud, waste and the widespread violations of the rights of citizens through secret mass surveillance programs after 9/11.

Delphine Halgand is the US Director of Reporters Without Borders since December 2011.

Ray McGovern, a retired CIA analyst turned political activist and speaker, chaired the National Intelligence Estimates in the 1980s. In 2003, he co-founded Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, an organization committed to analyzing and criticizing the use of intelligence.

Jesselyn Radack heads the Whistleblower and Source Protection Program (WHISPeR) at ExposeFacts. Among her clients are seven national security and intelligence community employees who have been investigated, charged, or prosecuted under the Espionage Act for allegedly mishandling classified information, including Edward Snowden, Thomas Drake, and John Kiriakou.

As space is limited, please RSVP to Margaux Ewen: [email protected] 

Co-sponsoring the conference with RSF are ExposeFacts and RootsAction.

Reporters Without Borders is the largest press freedom organization in the world with 30 years of experience. Thanks to its unique global network of 150 local correspondents investigating in 130 countries, 12 national offices and a consultative status at the United Nations and UNESCO, Reporters Without Borders is able to have a global impact by gathering and providing on the ground intelligence and assisting news providers all around the world.

CONTACT: Delphine Halgand, 202-256-5613 [email protected]

SOURCE Reporters Without Borders