According to Reuters news service:
Participants would vote to include each new member, who would then be required to sign a secrecy agreement not to reveal its existence.
As many as 160 employees were involved since the by-invitation-only chat room was created in the mid-1980s.
Used to trade off-color jokes, musings and observations, the password-protected electronic gossip center was uncovered during routine security checks.
The CIA said no unauthorized disclosure of classified information was indicated.
Just the same, it fired four of its personnel, including one senior intelligence officer, who had taken part in the clandestine misuse of government equipment.
It did so by revoking their security clearances, which effectively keeps them from gaining entry to agency facilities in order to return to work.
Also losing their security clearance were nine contractors.
Eighteen other employees received letters of reprimand. Most of those, including two senior intelligence officers who were also downgraded one step on the CIA's employment scale, were suspended without pay for five to 45 days.
The CIA gave 79 employees with minimal involvement letters of warning or refresher security briefings.
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