WASHINGTON - A federal judge on Tuesday ordered New York Times reporter James Risen to appear in court to answer questions about his book detailing a failed CIA effort to undermine Iran's nuclear weapons program, in a case that has become a touchstone of press freedom.
Though Risen has taken a firm stance about not revealing the identity of his sources, US prosecutors said in a court filing early on Tuesday they would seek to ask Risen if he had a confidentiality agreement with the individual who provided certain information for the 2006 book "State of War."
They also said they would ask him if he had a "prior non-confidential reporter-source relationship" with former CIA officer Jeffrey Sterling, who is facing trial on charges of leaking information to Risen.