Joshua Schulte, a former CIA software engineer, has received a 40-year prison sentence for the largest classified information theft in CIA history and possession of child sexual abuse material.

The sentencing took place in Manhattan federal court, where Schulte, 35, faced repercussions for his actions leading to a major CIA data leak in 2017, widely publicized by WikiLeaks. Judge Jesse M. Furman described the impact of Schulte's actions as "massive," although the full extent remains unknown.

Schulte has been in custody since 2018, as Newsmax reported.

The Vault 7 leak and its impact

The leaked information, known as the Vault 7 release, disclosed CIA tactics in hacking smartphones and transforming internet-connected TVs into surveillance devices.

Before his arrest, Schulte was instrumental in developing these hacking tools at the CIA's Langley, Virginia, headquarters.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David William Denton Jr. labeled the incident as the most harmful disclosure of classified information in U.S. history, suggesting a life sentence for Schulte.

During the sentencing, Schulte voiced his discontent with his treatment at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, referring to his cell as a "torture cage."

He also argued against the severity of the proposed life sentence, contrasting it with a previously offered 10-year plea deal.

Response to Schulte's remarks

Judge Furman criticized Schulte's lack of remorse and responsibility acceptance in his half-hour statement. He noted Schulte's actions were driven by personal grievances rather than altruism.

Furman also highlighted Schulte's continued criminal behavior while in custody, including attempts to leak more classified information and possession of child sexual abuse images on a hidden computer file.

However, the judge's observation of Schulte's demeanor reflected an absence of remorse and responsibility for his actions.

CIA's statement on the incident

A letter from CIA Deputy Director David S. Cohen described the severe consequences of Schulte's actions on national security and the CIA, including significant financial costs and risks to CIA personnel and operations.

Cohen's letter emphasized the dire impact of the leaks on the United States' ability to conduct foreign intelligence operations and protect national security interests.

A mistrial occurred in Schulte's 2020 trial on major counts, but a 2022 trial led to his conviction for the classified information leak. Subsequently, he was found guilty in a separate trial for possessing child sexual abuse materials.

The materials were discovered on a computer Schulte owned after leaving the CIA and relocating to New York. The judge described the trial over these charges as unequivocally damning.

Sentence breakdown and official statements

Of the 40-year sentence, the majority was attributed to the CIA data theft, with a portion for the child sexual abuse material convictions.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams remarked on the gravity of Schulte's espionage and his continued threats to national security from behind bars.

Williams highlighted Schulte's persistent attempts to undermine national security, even after his arrest by the FBI.

Conclusion

• Joshua Schulte received a 40-year sentence for the largest data theft in CIA history and possession of child sexual abuse material.
• The Vault 7 leak in 2017 exposed significant CIA hacking strategies, impacting national security.
• Schulte exhibited no remorse during sentencing, criticizing his treatment in custody and disputing the severity of his sentence.
• Judge Furman condemned Schulte's lack of remorse and ongoing criminal activities.
• The CIA emphasized the grave harm caused by Schulte's actions to U.S. national security and intelligence capabilities.
• A mistrial in 2020 was followed by convictions in 2022 for the classified leak and in a separate trial for child sexual abuse materials.
• U.S. Attorney Williams underscored Schulte's continued threat to national security, even from prison.