The FBI arrested a U.S. government contractor on Friday morning, and the Justice Department charged him by criminal complaint with unlawfully transmitting national defense information, the Daily Caller reports.
Ian A. Brinksman, 42, of Washington, D.C., is accused of passing classified material to a woman he was dating who ran a Substack newsletter.
According to the Justice Department, she had posted on social media, “I also accept leaks.” The Daily Caller reports the complaint alleges he contributed to five of her articles between March 11 and Oct. 5.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the arrest followed a referral from the agency and involved “a contractor who provided services to CIA.”
The complaint says Brinksman held a Top Secret clearance.
“The FBI arrested the subject after he was caught allegedly betraying his oath and leaking classified defense information,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in the department’s release.
The Daily Caller reports he could face up to ten years in prison if convicted.
The charges are allegations, and the Justice Department’s release states that he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Neither the release nor the Daily Caller report includes a response from Brinksman or an attorney.
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