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From his website:
John will enter the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Loretto, Pennsylvania on February 28, 2013. He can be reached at: John Kiriakou 79637-083, Federal Correctional Institution, Loretto, P.O. Box 1000, Loretto, PA 15940. He is permitted to receive mail from anyone, and soft cover books and magazines only from individuals. Hard cover books may be received directly from a publisher, a bookstore or Amazon.com.
His letter to supporters follows:
Dear Friends,
I wanted to drop you a line to say farewell as I depart for the Federal Work Camp at Loretto, Pennsylvania. I go with head held high, with pride, and with no regrets. The battle is not over, and I will continue to fight for human rights, civil liberties, and an end to torture. Remember, we’re on the right side of history!
My friend and attorney Jesselyn Radack will continue to run this email account, as well as the www.defendjohnk.com website. News will be posted there, and I’ll try to keep everybody updated. Please check out the video of the Orange Ball at the Hay Adams Hotel, hosted by Naomi Pitcairn, Fresh Juice Party, and Code Pink.
In the meantime, the Government Accountability Project has generously set up a fund to help my children get through the next 30 months. All donations are tax deductible. There’s a link on the front page of the defendjohnk website.
I wish I could thank you all individually for being there for me over the past year. I couldn’t have gotten through this without you.
Fondly,
John
PS: My new mailing address will be:
John Kiriakou 79637-083
FCI Loretto
P.O. Box 1000
Loretto, PA 15940
Defense Kiriakou <kiriakoudefense@gmail.com>
From the ‘how to help’ page, which has photos of his three youngest children:
The John Kiriakou Support Fund was created to help defray the legal defense costs that John has incurred by the charges brought against him. The Fund is managed by the Government Accountability Project and all donations are tax-deductible.
Please be as generous as you can.
Please click the “Network for Good” button below to make a confidential donation via credit card. All donor names and donation amounts will remain private unless the donor expressly states that he or she wishes to have the gift publicly acknowledged. In the designation box, please type “John Kiriakou.”
PLEASE NOTE: With every donation of $100 or more, we will send you an autographed, first-edition copy of John’s best-selling hard cover book, The Reluctant Spy: My Secret Life in the CIA’s War on Terror. Just click the “Network for Good” button above and follow the prompts. You will see a box entitled “Designation.” Just provide your name and address and we will send you an autographed book.
More background from Kevin Gosztola is here and here. Firedoglake’s petition demanding that President Obomba pardon Kiriakou’s sentence is here.
This is the RT video of the Orange Ball.
I’m so very sorry that Barack Obomba’s administration has done this to you, John, as well as to so many other brave whistle-blowers and journalists, and by extension…all of us who value and champion transparency, honesty, and the rule of law.
48 Comments
Thanks for sharing this with us!
Thanks Wendy.
Thanks John Kiriakou.
Mirrors will be banned forthwith throughout the kingdom and anyone possessing one or discovered peering into a reflection will be severely punished. Closely controlled fabrication of self-image is of the utmost importance and reality is only hardened perception. We’re the good guys. Aren’t we pretty?
No truth-tellers allowed –
Walk Tall
rec’d
Welcome, antipanglossian. Stay strong.
No regrets? None?
Then how does he explain this: “Mr. Kiriakou now realizes that he made a very serious mistake in passing any information to Journalist A, but he would not have done so had he known how Journalist A would make use of that information.”
http://usavkiriakou.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/127edva126.pdf
Look. The guy got a raw deal *in light of the fact that Scooter Libby and the torturers walked free*. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t blameworthy.
Compared with Bradley Manning, this guy’s offense is less justifiable. He did it while trying to build a post-government career, while schmoozing with journalists. Not exactly noble and principled stuff.
He’s no civil rights icon, is all I’m saying. We can condemn the government’s selectiveness and vindictiveness while keeping some perspective about the facts that led to his prosecution.
There’s no need to get tribal about this.
Oh, hotdog; you’re such a kindred soul. I thank you not only for the past-Orwellian characterization of this point in time via what other call our government, but for the John Mellencamp.
Could there be a more fitting anthem for John and others who defend the Constitution and are jailed for it? One of should email the song to Jessica Raddick; would you, or should I?
My heart to yours, dear one, but also, in the spirit of ‘no truth-tellers allowed’ and false images in mirrors, here’s Buffy...for you.
I appreciate you weighing in, MsPB Watch, and I’ll take your opinion under advisement.
Sure. I have no ill will toward him, and I wish to see him emerge out of prison leading the charge against torture (who doesn’t deserve a second chance). I do take issue with the PR campaign being built around him by handlers with loose fidelity to the truth.
One more thing: prison may be a good time for Kiriakou to “self purify” if he wants to take on the characteristics of a civil rights icon:
http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html
Thank you for this information. I run a small publishing company, so will be sending him some books. Periodically.
A lump in the throat so often, too often, when I think of all the beautiful and decent people jailed, and the recent murder of America’s young cyber Einstein, Aaron. Once there was a nation, and if you did the right things and said the right things, you were admired and listened to as a hero. (In Revolutionary Days, Tom Paine sold 130,000 pamphlets of his book, in a nation with only two million people.)
He says in the interview:
I made mistakes in my case. I would say, first, go through the chain of command, which I didn’t do, I should have done. I would say, if you get no satisfaction through your chain of command, go to the congressional oversight committees. But do not remain silent. If you see waste, fraud, abuse or illegality, shout it from the rooftops, whether it’s internally or to Congress.
On his website:
John told the court that a reporter doing a book on rendition asked if he could recommend a former colleague who might sit for an interview. John could not recommend anybody, but the reporter mentioned the first name of a former colleague. John responded with a last name and said he believed the former colleague was retired. It is for that conversation that John was prosecuted.
Back to the DN interview: What that means is the prosecutors were able to meet with the judge, related to my case, without the defense, my attorneys, being present. So we have no idea what it was that the prosecution told the judge. We were not allowed to defend ourselves. Indeed, Judge Brinkema denied 75 motions that we made asking for declassification of information so that I could present a defense. In August of 2012, after our motions had been denied, my attorneys and I walked out of the courtroom, and my attorney said, “We have no defense. She won’t let us say anything. She won’t let us defend you.” And so, we were forced into plea negotiations. But again, I’m not sure why the judge changed her position between October and January; it was inexplicable to me.
JOHN KIRIAKOU: Yeah, I had never heard of such a thing before. But in August, when we made our 75 motions, we thought that the judge would block off two days to hear the 75. In fact, there had been a conversation with the prosecution, and so she blocked off an hour to hear the 75 motions. So we knew we were in trouble. And then, at the very start of the hearing, the prosecutor got up and said that he was requesting a Rule 4 conversation. I didn’t know what this was. My attorneys objected and said, “If you don’t want the defendant to hear, at least allow us to hear so that we can represent his interests.” And the judge said, “No, this is a national security case. I’m allowed an ex parte communication with the prosecutors.” So the prosecutors went up to the bench. We could hear them whispering. They came back to their table, and the judge said, “All 75 motions are denied.” And that was the end of it.
Yes, I’m of the tribe that says we should be able to defend ourselves in court, and have access to the putative evidence that is withheld because it’s been deemed ‘classified for national security purposes’.
I’m afraid I have to go with MSPB Watch on this one, wd. The CIA has been a criminal organization far too long for anyone to say he is still proud to have been associated with it, as Kiriakou has said. He is no martyr.
Strawman. There’s a process in place to fight legal error. He chose to sign the plea.
Is he arguing the plea agreement was coercive? That he didn’t do it? 30 months is below what the sentencing guidelines call for a violation of the IIPA.
He should take his lumps, think hard about what he wants out of life, and emerge from prison dedicated to it. Not to be harsh, but whining about the situation won’t make him an icon.
That’s fine, EF Beall. Thanks for weighing in.
That was written before I saw your comment @ 10, and if he didn’t get a fair trial then that is deplorable. Still, I can’t feel any sympathy for him himself.
The PR campaign is all wrong for him. He needs to show true remorse and contrition, not false pride in why he’s going to jail.
Perhaps that’s exactly what he’ll do, MSPB Watch.
I just want someone to give me a Jedi-Vulcan-Luke Skywalker mind meld or whatever it is, because I can’t keep track of all this stuff anymore. All I know is the wrong people are going to jail.
Rec’d.
Thank you wendydavis.
I see your point that he should have acknowledged his remorse for his earlier failure to go public with the 2007 waterboarding of Aby Zabaydah; that sucks. He’d told Kevin Gosztola that his views had certainly evolved, especially when he discovered it didn’t even work. (low bar, yes)
Emptywheel reminded us how it all started, and that in the end, ‘The Torturers Got Their Scalp’.
Added: I’d forgotten this underlying reason for going after Kiriakou, per Glenn Greenwald:
‘In court papers, prosecutors said the investigation of Kiriakou began in 2009 when authorities became alarmed after discovering that detainees at Guantanamo Bay possessed photographs of CIA and FBI personnel who had interrogated them. The investigation eventually led back to Kiriakou, according to a government affidavit. Prosecutors said Kiriakou leaked the name of a covert operative to a journalist, who subsequently disclosed it to an investigator working for the lawyer of a Guantanamo detainee.’
You know, if you were to tell me that the best spokesperson against torture would be a spook who first defended it before leaving the agency to do a media tour, catching the press bug and then talking too much…
But this is the best we can get, so what choice do we have? I don’t begrudge the CIA for getting their scalp, that’s what the mafia does to snitches.
It is what it is. It’s not too late for him to be an effective opponent of torture, though. But he needs to earn that role, for better or worse. Nobody said this was going to be fair.
Thomas Drake, James Risen, Bradley Manning, Aaron Swarz, Jeremy Hammond, and others. Dunno, Isaiah, but this administration is more secretive than Bush’s, and clearly making a point of not exposing anything damaging to the MICC.
And welcome.
Noted. And if I had a spare tenner, I’d send it to him.
Good comparison. The CIA, Pentagon, Executive Branch, and loyal Judicial executers of police state rule = Mafia.
I’ll buy that.
Not to be crass, but if he “pulls this off,” he can provide for his family. Doors will open.
Heh. I’ve been spinning around the sites I visit trying to find a piece someone wrote about why this administration is worse than the mafia. The author made a good case, more about what the mafia *doesn’t do* that this administration does, but I can’t remember the details or find it.
OT
Dear wendydavis (everyone else can ignore this… PLEASE!)
In a response to me on your last diary you referred to a very self indulgent comment I left about being a singer and asked if I might share some of that with you. My inclination is to resist, because I’ve never been much satisfied/comfortable with hearing/promoting myself but since you asked… I recently recorded a cycle of songs written in the 50′s by Carlisle Floyd, one of America’s greatest opera composers (he’s now approaching 90 and just started composing a new one!).
Interestingly enough, the songs are written to biblical texts and as I wrote, I am not a man of faith (neither is Carlisle) but this music is inspired and inspiring. The link below is from the recording session, done at Carlisle’s home (that’s him in the background with his back turned to me). It’s the first song of the cycle. Now understand that when I record I need to inspire myself, because singing for a mic is not like singing for an audience. And I am so far away from the piano that effecting a good ensemble can be tough. So you’ll see me moving around a lot, conducting myself and doing things (like clearing my nose and adjusting my hard palate) that I’d never do on stage so don’t watch too closely. But I am satisfied with my sound and interpretation and will admit that this, vocally, is a pretty good version of me. I hope you’ll like it.
Personally, I think the best part of the video is the cat!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yqvRYEcDDA
My stars, bigchin; how wonderful your voice is, and how well you’ve interpreted the piece. Small wonder that you’re satisfied! I tried not to watch you, but felt my mouth making similar moves, and my chest trying for diaphragm support, lol. Simply magical. Thank you.
But yes, you blew the cat right outta room with your power, you rascal. Having no audience to feedback to you is harder, and can sometimes lessen the emotion of delivery, but you nailed it even without; my stars.
Are there more videos, and how often do you perform? And tsk, tsk; did you reckon I’d abandoned that post already? It’s still almost live and sorta kicking. Maybe, maybe, you could import your comment and into that thread, too, and then I’ll remember more where to find your answers to my questions, and the video. If it’s not too much trouble, just a little copy/paste.
And: it’s so nice to virtually meet you in another format, another passion.
Just found ‘For I am persuaded’; silky, controlled warm baritone. Just wonderful. But no cat. :)
Thanks wendydavis for your kind and generous rsponse. I’ll try to muster the courage to leave my mark on the other diary as well.
There are a few other videos if you search. Like I said, I’m disinclined to promote myself (none of the videos were posted my me) but for you I’d do almost anything. I’m one of your your biggest fans(!), even though I am more inclined to lurk and don’t comment much.
Peace to you an yours.
C.T.
Oh, please do; I’m listening to ‘L’Albatros’ right now. I have a million questions. (Phone, daughter, might be a bit.)
And I’m a fan of yours.
wd
What an absolutely delightful surprise to an otherwise ordinary afternoon.
For one thing, John Kiriakou didn’t have a lawyer as good as Daniel Ellsberg had. Ellsberg was arguably way deeper in the spookery of assassination and turture than Kiriakou, probably had CIA guys answering to him. For another thing, when Ellsberg blew his whistle, the World Trade Center wasn’t even open for business yet.
I might watch Three Days Of The Condor again tonight, see if Redford’s treatment of Faye Dunaway is a form of torture, which it would be if he was Walter Matthau.
Hmm. How would anyone know this administration is more secretive than Bush’s?
thank you nonquixote. And I want you to know that my father, Pedro, was a Cervantes scholar and I grew up with the Don.
Indeed, in a big crossover move, I’m working on a contract to sing Man of La Mancha (really, a great broadway masterwork) for the Reno Opera. Not sure it’s gonna happen (the company is struggling to survive, economically) but it would be a real kick to do that role!
LOL. The number of classified documents for a start. The number of FOIA requests, grants, and refusals, maybe.
And the opinion of many Constitutional scholars most importantly.
okay, I left a few links on the other thread, although I think by now you may have found them. I do appreciate your enthusiasm, more that you can know.
I’ve always had a difficult time squaring my art – almost exclusive to a monied world – and my politics. After a great start to my career (and especially after losing my partner to AIDS in 1996) I pulled back and tried to limit myself to less recognized venues and organizations. Fame eluded me (thank the god I don’t believe in!) and I am the better man for having avoided all the pressures and expectations which, early on, made singing less than joyous. I am a “dark” kind of guy but underneath it all is a very lucky and fortunate fella.
Well, Kinda Dark Guy, you’ve definitely brightened my day, and apparently others’ as well.
Peace. And I’m so very sorry your partner died of AIDS; I simply can’t imagine how painful that must have been.
I left you a message over yonder.
It was a pleasure, listening to that. Love the cat too. You are really really talented.
Good post, wd.
30 months is a long time, no doubt, but as far as just the serving time part goes, at least he will be in a Federal Work Camp and not a county jail, so hopefully he will not experience the physical and mental decline associated with the jails. If he can get some work going and get the mail pipeline going, and get access to a decent library, he can organize and do this time. I admire him for holding his head up high, during this difficult part of his life’s journey.
I do, too, Crane-Station, and I suspect he’ll be receiving at least a small library through the mail.
Good point on the work, though we don’t know how he’ll be treated. We’ll hope for the best for him.
I realize I could never be a federal judge, when I consider the pain prisoners go through, the punitive sentencing guidelines to which I would be bound, and the fact that so many convicts are low level non-violent drug offenders or individuals singled out for “designer” crimes in which the charges are tailored to achieve the desired result. I truly don’t understand how any half-way compassionate, thinking person could accept the position of federal judge.
I don’t suppose you’d be willing to spoon-feed me a bit more about Ellsberg being deeper into all of it than Kiriakou? So little time to google today, but I’ll understand if you decline. Sod my crap memory and all.
It’s hard now additionally, know how political federal judge and SCOTUS justice appointments have become, and what pressures must be brought to bear over rulings. Almost like high bars for jurisprudence don’t matter much any longer.
He had very high like ultimate top secret security clearance. From the wiki about him:
“Ellsberg served in the Pentagon from August 1964[5] under Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara (and, in fact, was on duty on the evening of the Gulf of Tonkin incident, reporting the incident to McNamara). He then served for two years in Vietnam working for General Edward Lansdale as a civilian in the State Department.”
(‘Incident‘? What incident?)
In his own (possibly scripted) unforgettable words, in the 1974 documentary Hearts and Minds.
So young back then. Thank you, AitchD. ‘What incident’ in a series of false flags or no flags at all. Lies for War.
My dad wanted McNamara to be President. I wish he’d lived long enough to hear him recant, fat lot of good it did, but better late than…never mind.
We fought bitterly over Viet Nam when I was as Kent State. I watched ‘Dominoes’ again last night, and was sucker-punched when the National Guard scene opened, and I recognized the buildings I’d walked among, and the hills above the Commons. Bad days.
… X 2
What a coincidence — last night Amazon notified me that the Criterion Collection is issuing Medium Cool in May (and I can pre-order it). It was rated X by the MPAA when it was released in 1969, thus ensuring no one would see it.
X? Looks good. In ‘Dominoes’ the director went out of his way to show what blacks suffered under cops (gonna try to find the accompanying song, which was short on lyrics, long on ironic outrage).
One of the big differences at the ’68 Chicago convention,etc. and now, was seeing the pre- and now post-militarization of uniforms, tanks, multiple weapons hanging on the cops, shields, etc.
Law and Order. Frightened of The People; bad development.
The Thrill Is Gone, then iirc a segue into Gimme Shelter, increasing the irony volume.
Next time you watch Medium Cool, note that Vera Bloom’s character has to work “at Motorola” doing unskilled, assembly-line work (as her clothes show us) b/c she isn’t credentialed to teach in Illinois, and the stuff she helps assemble lead to her death, as we see Gus the sound man speak into his Motorola device, which he claimed was only a pager when the two guys at the party correctly busted him for being an FBI flunky. Maybe the best work of art about conspiracy, itself being a conspiratorial tapestry comprising fact, fiction, truth, falsity, actors, non-actors as actors, actors as non-actors, and explaining through dialogue the film stock and exposure setting used in the hotel scene in Chicago for that impossible shot with the lamplight (years before Kubrick invented his fast lens for Barry Lyndon, although Stanley and Haskell often talked on the phone).
I will, dear, but in the meantime, all I got is: Don’t you know each cloud contains…pennies from heaven?
G’night.