Jury Selection Begins in Long-Delayed CIA Leak Trial in Va.

About 100 potential jurors are being called to the federal courthouse in Alexandria to decide whether a former CIA officer is guilty of illegally leaking classified information about Iran to a New York Times reporter.

Jeffrey Sterling of O'Fallon, Missouri, was charged in 2010 with illegally disclosing national defense information. Prosecutors say he leaked details about a purportedly botched CIA operation to cripple Iran's nuclear program to journalist James Risen, who used the information in his 2006 book ``State of War.''

Years of pretrial maneuvering have focused on whether Risen would be forced to testify about his confidential sources. In June, he lost an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court seeking immunity from a government subpoena.

The focus shifts Tuesday to Sterling, when jury selection and opening statements are expected.

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