Aformer Army employee who held a Top Secret security clearance has been arrested and indicted on charges she unlawfully disclosed classified national defense information, including details shared with a journalist.
Courtney Williams, 40, of Wagram, North Carolina, was taken into custody by the FBI on Tuesday. A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina returned an indictment against her the following day. Prosecutors allege she violated 18 U.S.C. § 793(d) by transmitting classified material to unauthorized recipients.
Williams worked for a Special Military Unit of the Army from 2010 to 2016 and maintained a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance. Court documents state she received regular training on safeguarding classified information and signed a nondisclosure agreement acknowledging that unauthorized disclosure could result in criminal charges.
According to the indictment, between 2022 and 2025 Williams had extensive contact with a journalist planning an article and book about the unit. The two exchanged more than 180 text messages and spoke on the phone for over 10 hours. After the communications, the journalist published material that included classified national defense information attributed to Williams.
"Clearance holders accept a solemn obligation to protect the classified information entrusted to them. When they violate that trust, the National Security Division will act swiftly to hold them accountable.
— John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security
Federal officials emphasized the seriousness of the allegations. They noted that the tactics, techniques, and procedures of the military unit are highly sensitive and must be protected to safeguard American service members and national security.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Logan Liles and trial attorneys from the Justice Department’s National Security Division are handling the prosecution.
Official Reactions
U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle stated that those entrusted with protecting the nation must place national security above personal interests. FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky warned that the indictment should serve as a clear message to all current and former clearance holders.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis in North Carolina added that sharing classified information with reporters for public release is reckless and directly harms the country’s security.
Important Note
As in all federal cases, the indictment contains only allegations at this stage. Williams is presumed innocent unless and until the government proves her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
The FBI’s Charlotte Field Office continues to investigate the matter. Officials have not released further details about the specific classified information allegedly disclosed.
