Category: classified information

Defense Secretary Tightens Classified Information Controls After Ukraine War Documents Leak

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has issued new instructions for how military personnel and contractors are allowed to handle classified information after sensitive military planning documents were recently leaked online. On Friday, Mr. Austin issued a memo (pdf) providing military components, supporting agencies, and contractors with new instructions for how to handle classified national…


Lawmakers Call for Reform in US Classification System

The past several months have seen allegations of mishandling classified documents brought against President Joe Biden, former Vice President Mike Pence, and former President Donald Trump, who was indicted last week by the Department of Justice on charges of doing that and more. In April, Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira accessed and allegedly leaked…


Air Force Suspends Alleged Pentagon Leaker Jack Teixeira’s Unit Leaders

The U.S. Air Force has temporarily suspended the leadership of a Massachusetts Air National Guard unit that was linked to the recent leak of classified documents associated with the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira was arrested earlier this month after authorities suspected him of orchestrating leaks…


Special Counsel Previously Oversaw Classified Document Prosecutions as US Attorney

The Special Counsel appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate whether any person broke the law in handling classified documents found in an office and at the home of President Joe Biden previously oversaw prosecutions related to improper handling of classified information when he served as U.S. Attorney for Maryland. Special Counsel Robert Hur,…


Former NSA Worker Accused of Trying to ‘Sell Secrets to Russia’ to Remain in Custody

A former National Security Agency (NSA) employee accused of espionage after allegedly attempting to sell classified National Defense Information (NDI) to a representative of a foreign government must remain jailed while he’s prosecuted, a magistrate judge ruled on Oct. 11. Jareh Sebastian Dalke, a 30-year-old Colorado Springs resident, was taken into custody based on a signed…


Linguist With Top-Secret Security Clearance Sentenced to 23 Years for Sending Classified Information to Terrorists

A Defense Department Linguist was sentenced to 23 years of imprisonment on June 23 for transmitting highly sensitive classified information related to national defense to a foreign government. Mariam Taha Thompson, 62, from Rochester, Minnesota, pleaded guilty on March 26, admitting that she was aware that the information she passed on to a Lebanese national…