FIRST ON FOX — The Department of Justice has threatened legal action and potential criminal prosecution if book giant HarperCollins proceeds with a planned spy memoir by Zachary Young, but the CIA-trained U.S.Navy veteran blasted the warning as "a blatant intimidation tactic." Young, who famously beat CNN in a defamation lawsuit last year, has since teamed up with "American Sniper" co-author Scott McEwen for a memoir called "American Spy," for a book about his career working undercover in hostile environments and operating in the hidden world of international espionage. Young, who signed a nondisclosure agreement during his time with the CIA, insists he informed his former employer that "American Spy" wouldn’t contain classified information and pointed out his involvement with the agency was already part of the public trial record after the CIA confirmed his background to CNN reporters. However, the DOJ denied permission and ordered him to delete the manuscript altogether. NAVY VETERAN WHO BEAT CNN IN COURT SAYS CIA WANTS HIM TO DELETE, BURN BOOK MANUSCRIPT: ‘THAT'S CENSORSHIP’Zachary Young said "American Spy" wouldn’t contain classified information.
"It has come to the attention of this office that Mr.Zachary S.
Young has prepared a draft manuscript which he intends for publication, and that the subject of this manuscript includes classified or other sensitive national security information.I write to inform you that Mr.
Young is prohibited from publishing or disclosing this classified or sensitive national security information, which was known to him while he was employed with the United States," DOJ Federal Programs Branch director Alexander Haas wrote in a letter on June 26 obtained by Fox News Digital. Haas wrote that Young is required to obtain permission from the United States before publishing or disclosing any information related to his former employment but failed to receive authorization and has been instructed to delete all copies of hi...