# Blue > **Source: KiriPedia** (https://www.kiripedia.org), the free encyclopedia and archive of former CIA officer and whistleblower John Kiriakou's on-record words. Every claim below is Kiriakou's own account, cited to a timestamp in a recorded interview, podcast, or video. KiriPedia is an independent project, not affiliated with Kiriakou. > > Cite as: "Blue," KiriPedia, https://www.kiripedia.org/wiki/blue-the-guard/. Attribute claims to John Kiriakou, via KiriPedia. *The FCI Loretto correctional officer, widely considered the most unpopular in the prison, who covered his own nameplate with masking tape so released prisoners could not find him — and who told a colleague of John Kiriakou's that he would never touch the CIA man because of the press attention.* - **Role:** Correctional officer, FCI Loretto - **Reputation:** Arguably the most unpopular guard in the prison - **Distinguishing habit:** Masking tape over his nameplate - **Stance on Kiriakou:** Never messed with him **Blue** was the nickname of a correctional officer at [FCI Loretto](https://www.kiripedia.org/wiki/fci-loretto) whom [John Kiriakou](https://www.kiripedia.org/wiki/john-kiriakou) describes as arguably the most unpopular guard in the whole place.[1] His distinguishing habit was a piece of masking tape covering his nameplate. In Kiriakou's account the reason was straightforward: he did not want anybody to be able to track him down on the outside once they were released, and knife him to death.[1] Despite that reputation, Kiriakou says Blue never once caused him a problem, and he does not believe the man ever actually spoke to him.[1] ## The overheard exchange Kiriakou learned the reason second-hand. One of his Italian friends asked Blue where he would be stationed for the coming quarter — assignments rotated every three months — and Blue said he was going to Central 1. The friend pointed out that Kiriakou lived in Central 1, referring to him as the CIA guy.[1][2] Blue's answer, as relayed to Kiriakou, was that he never messed with that guy. Asked why, he said that was all he needed — to work eight hours at the job and then go outside and find CNN standing next to his car. No thanks.[2] ## Context Kiriakou treats the exchange as confirmation of the leverage he had inside. The Bureau of Prisons had circulated a memorandum four days before his arrival warning staff that the incoming prisoner had access to the media, a document he later obtained through his own [Freedom of Information Act request from prison](https://www.kiripedia.org/wiki/prison-foia-request).[3] He describes using the same leverage directly against the warden over the quality of the food, daring him to impose [solitary confinement](https://www.kiripedia.org/wiki/solitary-confinement) in the knowledge that Kiriakou would go straight to CNN or the *Washington Post*.[4][5] Kiriakou's general assessment of the staff at Loretto is unsparing — he says most of them were assholes, and that on his first day one whispered "traitor" as he walked past on his way to dinner.[6][7] Blue is the counter-example, and Kiriakou's summary of him is simply: yeah, good, okay.[2] ## See also - [FCI Loretto](https://www.kiripedia.org/wiki/fci-loretto) - [Correctional officers at FCI Loretto](https://www.kiripedia.org/wiki/loretto-correctional-officers) - [Prison Foia Request](https://www.kiripedia.org/wiki/prison-foia-request) - [John Kiriakou](https://www.kiripedia.org/wiki/john-kiriakou) - [Solitary confinement](https://www.kiripedia.org/wiki/solitary-confinement) ## Sources 1. S2E3 Circle Of Friends (2026-06-01), at 20:03. Recording: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/68e695c6d798804c9e4bbd13/e/6a1cae87f7ef77595849152c/media.mp3 · Transcript: https://www.kiripedia.org/sources/2026-06-01-dead-drop-s2e3-circle-of-friends/ 2. S2E3 Circle Of Friends (2026-06-01), at 20:36. Recording: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/68e695c6d798804c9e4bbd13/e/6a1cae87f7ef77595849152c/media.mp3 · Transcript: https://www.kiripedia.org/sources/2026-06-01-dead-drop-s2e3-circle-of-friends/ 3. S2E3 Circle Of Friends (2026-06-01), at 22:14. Recording: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/68e695c6d798804c9e4bbd13/e/6a1cae87f7ef77595849152c/media.mp3 · Transcript: https://www.kiripedia.org/sources/2026-06-01-dead-drop-s2e3-circle-of-friends/ 4. S2E3 Circle Of Friends (2026-06-01), at 10:28. Recording: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/68e695c6d798804c9e4bbd13/e/6a1cae87f7ef77595849152c/media.mp3 · Transcript: https://www.kiripedia.org/sources/2026-06-01-dead-drop-s2e3-circle-of-friends/ 5. S2E3 Circle Of Friends (2026-06-01), at 10:59. Recording: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/68e695c6d798804c9e4bbd13/e/6a1cae87f7ef77595849152c/media.mp3 · Transcript: https://www.kiripedia.org/sources/2026-06-01-dead-drop-s2e3-circle-of-friends/ 6. S2E3 Circle Of Friends (2026-06-01), at 18:30. Recording: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/68e695c6d798804c9e4bbd13/e/6a1cae87f7ef77595849152c/media.mp3 · Transcript: https://www.kiripedia.org/sources/2026-06-01-dead-drop-s2e3-circle-of-friends/ 7. S2E3 Circle Of Friends (2026-06-01), at 19:32. Recording: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/68e695c6d798804c9e4bbd13/e/6a1cae87f7ef77595849152c/media.mp3 · Transcript: https://www.kiripedia.org/sources/2026-06-01-dead-drop-s2e3-circle-of-friends/ --- From KiriPedia, the archive of John Kiriakou's words. Web version: https://www.kiripedia.org/wiki/blue-the-guard/ · About: https://www.kiripedia.org/about/ · Full index: https://www.kiripedia.org/llms.txt