Ex-CIA Engineer Schulte Gets 40 Years for WikiLeaks Leak, Child Porn Charges

Joshua Schulte, a former CIA software engineer, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison following convictions on a range of charges including espionage, the transmission of national defense information, computer hacking, contempt of court, and possession of child pornography. The sentencing comes after Schulte was found to have leaked classified CIA documents to WikiLeaks, which published the materials in a series known as Vault 7. This leak, described by the Department of Justice as one of the largest unauthorized disclosures of classified information in U.S. history, exposed various cyber tools and intelligence-gathering methods, resulting in significant damage to national security and operational capabilities.

The leaked documents revealed the agency's methods for hacking into smartphones and turning internet-connected televisions into listening devices, among other techniques. The release of these hacking tools and exploits provided foreign intelligence entities, cybercriminals, and hackers worldwide access to sophisticated means of cyber espionage and warfare. The U.S. Attorney's Office emphasized the severity of Schulte's actions, labeling him a "traitor" and highlighting the risks posed to operatives and the financial costs incurred by the agency to mitigate the damage.

While incarcerated and awaiting trial, Schulte continued to publish sensitive information, which prosecutors cited as an ongoing "information war" against the United States. Despite Schulte maintaining his innocence and his attorney asserting that he faced harsh treatment while in custody, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams underscored the gravity of the crimes, stating that Schulte's actions constituted "some of the most brazen, heinous crimes of espionage in American history." The additional conviction for possession of child pornography added to the severity of Schulte's sentence.