A former employee of a U.S. Army Special Military Unit has been arrested and indicted on federal charges for allegedly leaking classified national defense information to unauthorized individuals, including a journalist. Courtney Williams, 40, of Wagram, North Carolina, was taken into custody yesterday and subsequently charged by a federal grand jury.
The charges center on allegations that Williams violated 18 U.S.C. § 793(d), a provision of the Espionage Act that prohibits the unauthorized transmission of information relating to the national defense. According to court documents, the disclosures were not limited to a single media contact but extended to Williams’ own social media accounts.
The case highlights a significant breach of trust involving a former holder of Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance. Federal prosecutors allege that Williams used her previous access to highly sensitive military operations to provide a source of information for a published book and article, potentially compromising American lives and strategic interests.
A Pattern of Unauthorized Disclosures
Between 2022 and 2025, federal investigators allege that Williams engaged in an extensive communication campaign with a journalist. This relationship included more than 10 hours of telephone conversations and the exchange of over 180 text messages. In one instance, the journalist explicitly identified their role and stated they were seeking information about the Special Military Unit (SMU) for an upcoming book and article.
Following these interactions, the journalist published works that named Williams as a source and attributed specific statements to her—statements that the government asserts contained classified national defense information. Beyond the press, the indictment alleges that Williams further jeopardized security by posting unauthorized national defense information on social media.
The evidence suggests that Williams was acutely aware of the legal risks she was taking. On the day the book and article were released, she messaged the journalist expressing concern over the “amount of classified information being disclosed.” In communications with third parties, Williams reportedly admitted, “I might actually receive arrested . . . For disclosing classified information,” and specifically cited provisions of the Espionage Act.
When questioned about how she knew she faced such severe legal consequences, Williams allegedly responded, “I have known my entire career,” adding that the warnings are repeated “everyday . . . 100 times a day.” In one final message to a third party, she stated she was “probably going to jail for life.”
Background and Security Obligations
Williams’ access to the leaked information dates back to her tenure from 2010 to 2016, during which she worked for an Army Special Military Unit. In this capacity, she held a Top Secret / SCI security clearance and had daily access to a wide array of classified data.
Court documents emphasize that Williams was not ignorant of her responsibilities. As a clearance holder, she received comprehensive training on the proper handling, storage, and safeguarding of classified material. She also signed a Classified Nondisclosure Agreement, which explicitly confirmed her understanding that unauthorized disclosures could result in criminal prosecution.
| Period | Activity / Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2010–2016 | Army SMU Employment | Held TS/SCI clearance with daily access to classified info. |
| 2022–2025 | Unauthorized Communications | 180+ messages and 10+ hours of calls with a journalist. |
| Publication Date | Disclosure Event | Book and article published naming Williams as a source. |
| Current | Legal Proceedings | Arrested and indicted by a federal grand jury. |
Government Response and National Security Impact
The Department of Justice and the FBI have characterized the leak as a betrayal of a solemn oath. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg emphasized the necessity of accountability for those who hold the nation’s secrets.
“Clearance holders accept a solemn obligation to protect the classified information entrusted to them,” Eisenberg said. “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.”
The FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division focused on the specific risk posed by the nature of the information leaked. Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky noted that Williams allegedly put “our nation, our warfighters, and our allies at risk.”
Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina, further explained that the “tradecraft, tactics, and techniques” used by the military unit in question are strictly classified. Davis described the act of divulging such information to a reporter as “reckless, self-serving and damages our nation’s security.”
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Ellis Boyle added that the government will pursue charges to protect “war fighting individuals” from leakers who “exalt their own feelings over the safety of the United States.”
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
The case is being investigated by the FBI Charlotte Field Office. Prosecution is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Logan Liles for the Eastern District of North Carolina, alongside Trial Attorneys Menno Goedman and Matt Hracho of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina also provided assistance in the investigation.
Disclaimer: An indictment is an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The next phase of the legal process will involve preliminary hearings in the Eastern District of North Carolina to determine bail conditions and the scheduling of a trial date. Further filings from the defense are expected as they review the evidence presented in the indictment.
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