Matthew Diaz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | lawyer |
| Known for | leaked the names of Guantanamo captives prior to their official publication |
Matthew Mark Diaz is a former active-duty Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) and Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAGC) officer in the United States Navy.[1][2] In mid-to-late 2004, Diaz served a six-month tour of duty in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as deputy director of the detention center's legal office.[3] Early in 2005 as LCDR Diaz was concluding his tour, he sent an anonymous greeting card to The Center for Constitutional Rights, a New York civil liberties and human rights group. The card contained the names of the detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.[4] In July 2006, the United States government formally charged Diaz in a military court with five criminal counts related to the sending of these names, the most serious being that he intended to harm national security or advantage a foreign nation, a violation of the Espionage Act. In May 2007, he was convicted by a seven-member jury of military officers on 4 of 5 counts. He served a 6-month prison sentence and was dismissed from the military.
In April 2008, he was awarded the Ridenhour Prize for Truth Telling.[5]
Diaz is currently employed with The Bronx Defenders as an intake coordinator.[6]
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"U.S. Navy says officer passed secret Guantanamo data". Washington DC: New Zealand Herald. 2006-08-30. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
Lt Cmdr Matthew Diaz, stationed from July 2004 to January 2005 at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, faced a total of eight counts of three criminal charges and could spend 36 1/2 years in prison if convicted on all, the Navy said.
- ^ Sung, Michael (May 19, 2007). "Former Guantanamo military lawyer sentenced to 6 months for leaking names". Jurist Legal News and Research. University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Archived from the original on 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2007-05-19.
- ^ Rosenberg, Carol (May 17, 2007). "Naval lawyer guilty of spilling captives' names". MiamiHerald.com. Miami Herald. Archived from the original on May 20, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-19.
- ^ Egerton, Brooks (May 18, 2007). "'Moral decision' jeopardizes Navy lawyer's career". DallasMorningNews.com. The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on 2007-05-19. Retrieved 2007-05-19. Alt URL
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"The Ridenhour Prize for Truth-Telling". Ridenhour.org. 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-12-05.
Matthew Diaz said no. While others were swept away by the passions of the moment and uncritical deference to authority, Lt. Cmdr. Diaz demonstrated independent judgment, fidelity to the Constitution, and uncommon courage. By disclosing the names of prisoners secretly detained at Guantánamo, he broke ranks and he violated the law, and for that he has paid a serious price. But we believe that he also demonstrated a profound loyalty to the United States and its enduring constitutional principles. We therefore honor him with the Ridenhour Prize for Truth-Telling.
- ^ "Matt Diaz - The Bronx Defenders". BronxDefenders.org. Retrieved 21 February 2018.