Georgia woman facing 'longest sentence' for leaking to media

Prosecutors say a Georgia woman who pleaded guilty to mailing a secret U.S. report to a news organization faces the "longest sentence" ever for a federal crime involving leaks to the media.

Ex-National Security Agency contractor Reality Winner is scheduled for sentencing Aug. 23 by a federal judge in Augusta. She pleaded guilty in June.

RELATED: Sentencing date set for Georgia woman who leaked secrets

Winner's plea deal calls for a prison sentence of five years and three months. The judge isn't bound by that agreement, and the charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years.

Prosecutors said in a court filing Tuesday their recommended sentence is stiffer than punishments in prior leak cases.

Winner's arrest last year was announced the same day The Intercept published a story on a classified NSA report on Russian hackers and the 2016 election.

RELATED: Reality Winner pleads guilty for leaking classified documents