acReporting from Baltimore— Thomas Andrews Drake, the former National Security Agency employee accused of leaking classified information to a reporter, pleaded guilty Friday to one misdemeanor count of "exceeding the authorized use of a computer.It's a much lesser offense than the Espionage Act and false-statement violations Drake was originally charged with, and represents a major reversal of the government's initial legal stance that he jeopardized national security.Related Libya rebel council may include extremists, Panetta says U.S. can't justify its drug war spending, reports say Pakistan shuts down U.S. 'intelligence fusion' cells "I hope this is the death knell of using the Espionage Act to send a message to 'leakers' who are more often than not whistle-blowers," said Jesselyn Radack, who represents Drake in a separate case involving the NSA.
"This was the wrong person, this was the wrong case, and the Espionage Act was an overreach," Radack said.
She said Drake would not comment himself until after the sentencing, which is scheduled for July 15, when the Department of Justice will also dismiss the more serious indictment against him
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