Retired general target of Iran attack leak probe

A former vice chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff is under investigation for allegedly leaking classified information about a covert cyber-attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities

Retired Marine Gen James “Hoss” Cartwright has been told he is a target of the probe, NBC News and The Washington Post reported. A “target” is someone a prosecutor or grand jury has substantial evidence linking to a crime and who is likely to be charged.

The Justice Department referred questions to the US attorney’s office in Baltimore, where a spokeswoman, Marcia Murphy, declined to comment.

The investigation of the leak about the Iran cyber-attack is one of a number of national security leak investigations that have been started by the Obama administration, including ones involving The Associated Press and Fox News.

In June 2012, the New York Times reported that Cartwright was a crucial player in the cyber operation called Olympic Games, started under President George W Bush.

Bush reportedly advised President Barack Obama to preserve Olympic Games.

According to the Times, Obama ordered the cyber attacks be sped up, and in 2010 an attack using a computer virus called Stuxnet temporarily disabled 1,000 centrifuges that the Iranians were using to enrich uranium.

Congressional leaders demanded a criminal probe into who leaked the information, and Obama said he had zero tolerance for such leaks.

Republicans said senior administration officials had leaked the details to bolster the president’s national security credentials during the 2012 campaign.