“Mr. President, this resolution concerns a request for testimony in a criminal case under way in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. In this case, a former CIA officer has been charged with unlawfully disclosing classified information”, said McConnell.
On January 16, 2015 Senator Mitch McConnell requested permission to address the United States Senate to proceed with a motion (S. Res 27) to authorize legal council for a Senate staff member called to testify against a former CIA agent accused of disclosing classified information:
“Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 27, which was submitted earlier today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The bill clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 27) to authorize testimony and representation in United States of America v. Jeffrey A. Sterling.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, this resolution concerns a request for testimony in a criminal case under way in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. In this case, a former CIA officer has been charged with unlawfully disclosing classified information.
In 2010, the Senate agreed to S. Res. 600, in the 111th Congress, which authorized the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to provide evidence in the investigation that preceded this indictment.
In addition to Senate Intelligence Committee staff, testimony as a fact witness has been requested from a former employee of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The chairman and ranking minority member of the Judiciary Committee would like to cooperate with the request for testimony in this case.
Accordingly, this resolution would authorize the former Judiciary Committee employee to testify at trial with representation by the Senate Legal Counsel.
Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 27) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
(The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today’s Record under “Submitted Resolutions.)”
Source: Congressional Record
See video: CIA Agent Charged With Espionage Act by Justice Department https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXDE74alvzA
See related report: Protecting Classified Information and the Rights of Criminal Defendants: The Classified Information Procedures Act https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/secrecy/R41742.pdf