New York Times investigative reporter James Risen has appeared in court and refused to answer questions about an alleged source. Monday’s hearing in Virginia took place ahead of the trial of former CIA officer Jeffrey Sterling, who is accused of giving Risen classified information which revealed a botched CIA plot to disrupt Iran’s nuclear program. Risen has waged a seven-year legal battle against the Obama administration’s attempts to subpoena him and force him to reveal his source. It is unclear if Risen will be forced to testify at Sterling’s trial. Risen’s hearing comes as the administration has backed off on a threat to subpoena another journalist, 60 Minutes producer Richard Bonin, at a trial over bombings by al-Qaeda. The New York Times reports the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, Preet Bharara, has withdrawn his recommendation to subpoena Bonin over his interactions with al-Qaeda’s press office in 1998.