John Kiriakou
Awards & Honours
3
Awards Won
2
Honours
1
Rankings
1
Covers
2
Records
Kiriakou's achievements are rooted in his courage to speak truth to power. He was the first CIA officer to publicly confirm the agency's use of waterboarding, a revelation that sparked national debate on torture. Despite facing prosecution and imprisonment under the Espionage Act, he continued to advocate for transparency and accountability. His awards, including the PEN First Amendment Award and the Sam Adams Award, recognize his sacrifice for civil liberties. He is also a recipient of the Ridenhour Prize for Truth-Telling, cementing his place among the most consequential whistleblowers of the post-9/11 era.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
Whistleblower of the Year
Recognized for his courageous disclosure of CIA waterboarding.
Honorary Life Member
Awarded for his whistleblowing on torture.
Rankings & Lists
Top 10 Whistleblowers
Magazine Covers
The Nation
2013
The Price of Truth: John Kiriakou's Fight
Records & Feats
First CIA officer to publicly confirm waterboarding
In 2007, Kiriakou became the first former CIA officer to publicly confirm the agency used waterboarding on a detainee.
First CIA officer convicted for leaking a covert officer's name
Kiriakou was the first CIA officer ever convicted under the Espionage Act for disclosing the identity of a covert officer.