Topic: Trial Begins Monday For Officer Accused Of Leaking Information

Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
May 11, 2007
By Kate Wiltrout, The Virginian-Pilot
NORFOLK - A Navy officer accused of leaking information about terror suspects in U.S. custody in Cuba faces trial here Monday.
Lt. Cmdr. Matthew M. Diaz, a Navy lawyer, was charged last August with wrongfully and dishonorably transmitting information about detainees at Guantanamo Bay to someone outside the government.
The charges allege that between Dec. 20, 2004, and Feb. 28, 2005, Diaz printed out secret information and sent it to the unidentified recipient.
A Navy spokeswoman described it as a multi page classified document containing names and identifying information of individuals detained at Guantanamo.
The recipient of the document notified federal authorities, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service began an investigation.
If found guilty, Diaz could face up to 36 years in prison.
Navy spokeswoman Beth Baker said the general court-martial is expected to last five days. Diaz will be tried before a seven-member jury of Norfolk-based naval officers, Baker said Thursday.
Though Diaz is now based in Jacksonville, Fla., the court-martial was moved to Norfolk because it involves national security. The Navy handles such cases only in Norfolk and San Diego.
Diaz was stationed at Guantanamo Bay from July 2004 until January 2005. He worked as a deputy staff judge advocate, providing counsel to the military command that runs the detention facility.
He was not involved in prosecuting or defending foreign nationals suspected of terrorist ties who were held and interrogated at the military facility.
Diaz, who is not in government custody, is represented by a Texas-based civilian attorney and two Navy lawyers.