NSA whistleblower Reality Winner, 28, seeks early release from prison where two inmates have coronavirus because her asthma and eating disorder could make her immunocompromised
- In 2018, former National Security Agency contractor Reality Leigh Winner was sentenced to federal prison for leaking classified government information
- Winner is at Federal Medical Center, Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, where two inmates have tested positive for the new coronavirus
- Lawyer said the prison is a 'petri dish' for coronavirus that's run out of hand sanitizer and has no way to carry out proper social distancing or self-isolation
- She is asking for a compassionate release before November 2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic
- Attorney said asthma and eating disorder could make her immunocompromised
- She's also depressed and due to being isolated in her cell much of the day, cannot use exercise as a release
- Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID
A former National Security Agency contractor sentenced to five years in federal prison for leaking a classified government analysis of Russian operatives' attempt to influence the 2016 election, is asking for a compassionate release due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Reality Leigh Winner, 28, believes her asthma and eating disorder make her more susceptible to being infected with COVID-19, defense attorney Joe Whitley said in a motion filed Friday in federal court in Augusta, Georgia.
She is due out November 23, 2021 but wants to leave a year-and-a-half early, also citing 'depression' as a reason to leave Federal Medical Center, Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas.
Winner's attorney described the place as a 'petri dish' for the new coronavirus which has already infected two fellow inmates.
FILE- In this June 26, 2018 file photo, Reality Winner walks into the Federal Courthouse in Augusta, Ga. The former National Security Agency contractor sentenced to federal prison for leaking classified government information is asking for a compassionate release due to the coronavirus pandemic
Her attorney said Federal Medical Center, Carswell (pictured) is a 'petri dish' for coronavirus that's run out of hand sanitizer and has no way to carry out proper social distancing or self-isolation
In August 2018, Winner was sentenced for a single count of transmitting national security information, violating the Espionage Act, when she worked at a National Security Agency office in Georgia
The filing complained that the facility has run out of hand sanitizer and has no way to carry out proper social distancing or self-isolation, the Augusta Chronicle reported.
The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, but also milder cases of pneumonia that sometimes requires hospitalization.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons reported on Monday that so far 388 inmates and 201 staff were infected, and 15 inmates had died in the US.
'A prison inmate like Reality cannot "shelter in place" and avoid contact with others,' Whitley wrote. 'Instead, she is stuck in a densely populated breeding ground for the disease.'
The document argues that Winner will not be able to exercised while isolated to her cell for much of the day due to social distancing. Winner's lack of exercise could cause her relapse.
Under the First Step Act of 2019, Winner wants to be released to home confinement.
The filing claims her health conditions fall under the 'extraordinary and compelling' reasons required for release.
Three months into her job at Pluribus International at Fort Gordon she mailed the document to The Intercept in May 2017. She has security clearance due to her history in the Air Force. She is pictured with her mother Billie Winner-Davis (left)
The filing complained that the facility has run out of hand sanitizer and has no way to carry out proper social distancing or self-isolation, the Augusta Chronicle reported
The Friday filing mentions that Winner suffers with depression and bulimia nervosa
The stress of the pandemic may cause her re-lapse and the filing mentions that she may be immunocompromised due to the eating disorder
In August 2018, Winner was sentenced for a single count of transmitting national security information, violating the Espionage Act, when she worked at a National Security Agency office in Georgia.
She was the first person under the Trump admin to be prosecuted for leaking classified information.
Three months into her job at Pluribus International at Fort Gordon she mailed the document to The Intercept in May 2017. She has security clearance due to her history in the Air Force.
In June 2017 she was arrested at her Battle Row rental home.
Earlier this year, Winner sought clemency from President Donald Trump.
Her attorney, Alison Grinter Allen, announced in February an application with the Justice Department for early release that included about 4,500 letters of support.
Her lawyers said Winner had 'suffered enough' and called on the president to 'do the right thing'.
Reality Winner's unit photo from her time in the Air Force is displayed at the home in Georgia where she wishes to complete her sentence. She is set to be released November 2021
The document argues she has no way to exercise and that the Bureau of Prisons staff put her at further risk of getting COVID-19
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