Latest Leaker

Back in 2006, we had quoted Howell Raines, former executive editor of the New York Times, who shared some tantalizing, insiders' knowledge with an audience at the Aspen Institute, an international organization dedicated to "fostering enlightened leadership, the appreciation of timeless ideas and values, and open-minded dialogue on contemporary issues."

When one audience member asked Raines about the role of media leaks, Raines offered up some arcane information of his own::

"Almost all leakers are lawyers. That's the bottom line."

We have not attempted to compile the law degree status of every leaker since 2006, but we have checked the latest:

WASHINGTON- Thu Jan 6, 2011 4:27pm EST by James Vicini (Reuters) Ex-CIA officer charged with giving reporter secrets - A former CIA officer was arrested on Thursday on charges of illegally disclosing national defense information about Iran to a New York Times reporter who wrote a book.

Sterling, a lawyer who worked at the CIA from 1993 to 2002, was arrested in St. Louis near where he lives.From 1998 through mid-2000, he was assigned to a classified clandestine program that conducted intelligence activities about the weapons capabilities of certain countries, the Justice Department said in announcing the indictment against Sterling.

Perhaps the CIA's Security Section should take more of an interest in reading our 2006 posting. Oh, well. We realized it is currently politically incorrect to avoid grief by rational means. Unfortunately, resultant grief always adds job security for members of the bar.