WASHINGTON — Defense lawyers have issued a subpoena to a New York Times reporter to testify in the trial of a former CIA officer accused of leaking classified information.

Edward MacMahon said Friday that journalist James Risen had been subpoenaed in the case of his client, Jeffrey Sterling, who is scheduled for trial in Virginia next week.

The move could signal that defense lawyers don't expect the Justice Department to force Risen to testify.

Sterling is accused of leaking classified information about a botched operation in Iran to Risen that the journalist used in his book, "State of War." He's set for trial next week.

The Justice Department earlier dropped its demand that Risen divulge his source, though prosecutors have continued to seek his testimony.