Former Army Employee With Top Secret Clearance Arrested for Leaking Classified Military Secrets to Journalist

Courtney Williams, once trusted with some of the nation’s most sensitive military secrets, now faces federal charges for betraying that trust. The FBI arrested Williams, 40, from Wagram, North Carolina, after a federal grand jury indicted her for unlawfully transmitting classified national defense information to an unauthorized journalist and others.

Williams held a Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance and worked from 2010 to 2016 supporting a Special Military Unit (SMU). She was trained extensively on safeguarding classified information and signed a nondisclosure agreement acknowledging that leaking such information could lead to criminal charges.

Between 2022 and 2025, Williams allegedly communicated extensively with a journalist, exchanging over 10 hours of phone calls and more than 180 text messages. The journalist openly identified themselves and sought classified details for an article and book, which later named Williams as a source and included classified national defense information attributed to her.

Williams also reportedly disclosed classified information via her social media accounts. Despite expressing concern about the volume of classified details she was sharing, Williams acknowledged the legal consequences of her actions in multiple messages, even citing the Espionage Act and anticipating a possible life sentence.

Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg emphasized the gravity of the violation, stating that clearance holders have a solemn obligation to protect classified information critical to national security. FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky warned that this indictment serves as a stark reminder that unauthorized disclosures will be met with swift accountability.

This case highlights ongoing risks when individuals with high-level security clearances disregard their legal and ethical duties, jeopardizing military operations and the safety of American warfighters. The FBI Charlotte Field Office is leading the investigation, with prosecution handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina and the National Security Division.

As the indictment moves forward, Williams remains presumed innocent until proven guilty, but the charges underscore the serious consequences of leaking classified information in an era when national security faces unprecedented challenges.