The Latest: Ex-CIA employee in leak probe ‘deeply saddened’

WASHINGTON – The Latest on a federal investigation to determine whether a former CIA employee jailed on child pornography charges is also tied to a massive leak of cyber hacking tools (all times local):

9:20 p.m.

A lawyer for a New York man being investigated in a massive CIA leak of cyber hacking tools says her client is “deeply saddened” to hear he could face espionage charges.

Assistant Federal Defender Sabrina Shroff commented Tuesday about 29-year-old Joshua Adam Schulte after a prosecutor revealed last week that the government hoped a grand jury would return charges in about 45 days.

Schulte is being held without bail on child pornography charges brought against him in Manhattan federal court. A prosecutor revealed in January he’s a target of a probe into the theft of tools that were used by the CIA to spy overseas.

Shroff says Schulte has spent years working to ensure the safety of his country. His defence lawyers earlier insisted he was not involved in the theft.

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7:55 p.m.

A New York prosecutor is expecting a grand jury to act within weeks against a former CIA employee who is jailed on child pornography charges but may face further charges in a massive leak of cyber hacking tools.

That’s according to court documents reviewed Tuesday by The Associated Press.

Government prosecutors say Joshua Adam Schulte of New York is a target in the theft investigation. No theft charges have been filed against him, and his defence lawyers insist he was not involved.

On Friday, Manhattan federal prosecutor Matthew Laroche estimated in court that charges against Schulte are 45 days away.

The prosecutor referenced the broader CIA leak probe and the grand jury but didn’t elaborate.

His description led defence lawyer Sabrina Shroff to ask, “Are they charging him with espionage?”

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7 p.m.

The FBI is investigating whether a former CIA employee jailed on child pornography charges is also tied to a massive leak of cyber hacking tools.

According to court documents reviewed by The Associated Press on Tuesday, government prosecutors say Joshua Adam Schulte of New York is a target in the investigation of the theft of hacking tools the CIA used to spy overseas. WikiLeaks began releasing them in March 2017.

No charges have been filed against Schulte and his defence lawyers have insisted he was not involved.

At a January hearing on child pornography charges filed against Schulte, an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York said the government conducted several search warrants on Schulte’s home.

Schulte’s name was first reported Tuesday by The Washington Post.