Topline: Prosecutors allege the information was disclosed despite repeated warnings given to clearance holders about protecting national security secrets.
Published: April 9, 2026 8:46 am ET
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via US Army / Facebook
WAGRAM, NC — A former Army employee with a top-level security clearance has been arrested and charged with leaking classified national defense information, including to a journalist.
Federal authorities say Courtney Williams, 40, was taken into custody Tuesday and indicted by a grand jury on allegations she unlawfully transmitted sensitive information to individuals not authorized to receive it, in violation of the Espionage Act.
“Clearance holders accept a solemn obligation to protect the classified information entrusted to them,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, according to the Justice Department. “That they do so is critical to the security of our Nation. When clearance holders violate that trust, the National Security Division will act swiftly to hold them accountable.”
According to court documents cited by the Justice Department, Williams worked for a Special Military Unit between 2010 and 2016 and held a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance. In that role, she had daily access to a broad range of classified material and received training on how to properly handle and safeguard it. Prosecutors say she also signed a nondisclosure agreement acknowledging that unauthorized disclosures could constitute a criminal offense.
Despite that, investigators allege that between 2022 and 2025, Williams repeatedly communicated with a journalist through phone calls and text messages, totaling more than 10 hours of calls and over 180 messages. According to the Justice Department, the journalist identified themselves and sought information about the military unit for an article and book.
After those exchanges, the journalist published both a book and an article that named Williams as a source and attributed statements to her, some of which contained classified national defense information, authorities said. Prosecutors also allege Williams made additional unauthorized disclosures through her social media accounts.
“Courtney Williams swore an oath to safeguard our nation’s secrets as an employee supporting a Special Military Unit of the Army, but she allegedly betrayed that oath by sharing classified information with a media outlet and putting our nation, our warfighters, and our allies at risk,” said FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky, according to the Justice Department.
Messages cited in the charging documents show Williams expressing concern about her actions around the time of publication. On the day the article and book were released, she told the journalist she was “concerned about the amount of classified information being disclosed.” In a separate message to another person, she wrote, “I might actually get arrested . . . for disclosing classified information.”
Authorities say Williams also referenced the Espionage Act in a later message and acknowledged she understood the potential consequences. When asked how she knew she could face legal trouble, she responded, “I have known my entire career,” adding that “they tell you everyday . . . 100 times a day.” In another message to a different third party, she said she was “probably going to jail for life.”
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Ellis Boyle said prosecutors intend to pursue the case aggressively. “We trust our war fighting individuals to cooperate as a team to protect our military and country,” Boyle said, according to the Justice Department. “We will pursue criminal charges to keep these warriors safe whenever we find leakers exalting their own feelings over the safety of the United States.”
FBI officials also emphasized the broader national security implications of the case. “The tradecraft, tactics, and techniques used by the U.S. military unit in this case are classified and should be shared only with those with proper clearances and a need to know in order to protect American lives and safeguard classified National Defense information,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis in North Carolina.
“These are serious accusations,” Davis added. “Anyone divulging information they vowed to protect to a reporter for publication is reckless, self-serving and damages our nation’s security.”
The case remains ongoing.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Former US Army Employee Arrested for Allegedly Leaking Classified Info to Journalist
Prosecutors allege the information was disclosed despite repeated warnings given to clearance holders about protecting national security secrets.
By Jacob Charles
Published: April 9, 2026 8:46 am ET
via US Army / Facebook
WAGRAM, NC — A former Army employee with a top-level security clearance has been arrested and charged with leaking classified national defense information, including to a journalist.
Federal authorities say Courtney Williams, 40, was taken into custody Tuesday and indicted by a grand jury on allegations she unlawfully transmitted sensitive information to individuals not authorized to receive it, in violation of the Espionage Act.
“Clearance holders accept a solemn obligation to protect the classified information entrusted to them,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, according to the Justice Department. “That they do so is critical to the security of our Nation. When clearance holders violate that trust, the National Security Division will act swiftly to hold them accountable.”
According to court documents cited by the Justice Department, Williams worked for a Special Military Unit between 2010 and 2016 and held a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance. In that role, she had daily access to a broad range of classified material and received training on how to properly handle and safeguard it. Prosecutors say she also signed a nondisclosure agreement acknowledging that unauthorized disclosures could constitute a criminal offense.
Despite that, investigators allege that between 2022 and 2025, Williams repeatedly communicated with a journalist through phone calls and text messages, totaling more than 10 hours of calls and over 180 messages. According to the Justice Department, the journalist identified themselves and sought information about the military unit for an article and book.
After those exchanges, the journalist published both a book and an article that named Williams as a source and attributed statements to her, some of which contained classified national defense information, authorities said. Prosecutors also allege Williams made additional unauthorized disclosures through her social media accounts.
“Courtney Williams swore an oath to safeguard our nation’s secrets as an employee supporting a Special Military Unit of the Army, but she allegedly betrayed that oath by sharing classified information with a media outlet and putting our nation, our warfighters, and our allies at risk,” said FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky, according to the Justice Department.
Messages cited in the charging documents show Williams expressing concern about her actions around the time of publication. On the day the article and book were released, she told the journalist she was “concerned about the amount of classified information being disclosed.” In a separate message to another person, she wrote, “I might actually get arrested . . . for disclosing classified information.”
Authorities say Williams also referenced the Espionage Act in a later message and acknowledged she understood the potential consequences. When asked how she knew she could face legal trouble, she responded, “I have known my entire career,” adding that “they tell you everyday . . . 100 times a day.” In another message to a different third party, she said she was “probably going to jail for life.”
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Ellis Boyle said prosecutors intend to pursue the case aggressively. “We trust our war fighting individuals to cooperate as a team to protect our military and country,” Boyle said, according to the Justice Department. “We will pursue criminal charges to keep these warriors safe whenever we find leakers exalting their own feelings over the safety of the United States.”
FBI officials also emphasized the broader national security implications of the case. “The tradecraft, tactics, and techniques used by the U.S. military unit in this case are classified and should be shared only with those with proper clearances and a need to know in order to protect American lives and safeguard classified National Defense information,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis in North Carolina.
“These are serious accusations,” Davis added. “Anyone divulging information they vowed to protect to a reporter for publication is reckless, self-serving and damages our nation’s security.”
The case remains ongoing.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Former US Army Employee Arrested for Allegedly Leaking Classified Info to Journalist
Prosecutors allege the information was disclosed despite repeated warnings given to clearance holders about protecting national security secrets.
By Jacob Charles
Published: April 9, 2026 8:46 am ET
via US Army / Facebook
WAGRAM, NC — A former Army employee with a top-level security clearance has been arrested and charged with leaking classified national defense information, including to a journalist.
Federal authorities say Courtney Williams, 40, was taken into custody Tuesday and indicted by a grand jury on allegations she unlawfully transmitted sensitive information to individuals not authorized to receive it, in violation of the Espionage Act.
“Clearance holders accept a solemn obligation to protect the classified information entrusted to them,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, according to the Justice Department. “That they do so is critical to the security of our Nation. When clearance holders violate that trust, the National Security Division will act swiftly to hold them accountable.”
According to court documents cited by the Justice Department, Williams worked for a Special Military Unit between 2010 and 2016 and held a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance. In that role, she had daily access to a broad range of classified material and received training on how to properly handle and safeguard it. Prosecutors say she also signed a nondisclosure agreement acknowledging that unauthorized disclosures could constitute a criminal offense.
Despite that, investigators allege that between 2022 and 2025, Williams repeatedly communicated with a journalist through phone calls and text messages, totaling more than 10 hours of calls and over 180 messages. According to the Justice Department, the journalist identified themselves and sought information about the military unit for an article and book.
After those exchanges, the journalist published both a book and an article that named Williams as a source and attributed statements to her, some of which contained classified national defense information, authorities said. Prosecutors also allege Williams made additional unauthorized disclosures through her social media accounts.
“Courtney Williams swore an oath to safeguard our nation’s secrets as an employee supporting a Special Military Unit of the Army, but she allegedly betrayed that oath by sharing classified information with a media outlet and putting our nation, our warfighters, and our allies at risk,” said FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky, according to the Justice Department.
Messages cited in the charging documents show Williams expressing concern about her actions around the time of publication. On the day the article and book were released, she told the journalist she was “concerned about the amount of classified information being disclosed.” In a separate message to another person, she wrote, “I might actually get arrested . . . for disclosing classified information.”
Authorities say Williams also referenced the Espionage Act in a later message and acknowledged she understood the potential consequences. When asked how she knew she could face legal trouble, she responded, “I have known my entire career,” adding that “they tell you everyday . . . 100 times a day.” In another message to a different third party, she said she was “probably going to jail for life.”
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Ellis Boyle said prosecutors intend to pursue the case aggressively. “We trust our war fighting individuals to cooperate as a team to protect our military and country,” Boyle said, according to the Justice Department. “We will pursue criminal charges to keep these warriors safe whenever we find leakers exalting their own feelings over the safety of the United States.”
FBI officials also emphasized the broader national security implications of the case. “The tradecraft, tactics, and techniques used by the U.S. military unit in this case are classified and should be shared only with those with proper clearances and a need to know in order to protect American lives and safeguard classified National Defense information,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis in North Carolina.
“These are serious accusations,” Davis added. “Anyone divulging information they vowed to protect to a reporter for publication is reckless, self-serving and damages our nation’s security.”
The case remains ongoing.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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