Former Army Employee Charged for Leaking Classified Information

Courtney Williams allegedly shared sensitive details with a journalist about a Special Military Unit.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 3:22pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a redacted government document or classified file folder, lit by a harsh direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.A former Army employee's alleged leaks of classified information to a journalist have led to criminal charges, exposing the ongoing challenge of protecting national security secrets.Charlotte Today

The FBI has arrested and charged a 40-year-old former U.S. Army employee from North Carolina for allegedly leaking classified information to a journalist between 2022 and 2025. Courtney Williams, who previously held a Top Secret security clearance while working for a Special Military Unit, is accused of communicating with the journalist and providing details that were later published in a book and article.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenge of preventing leaks of sensitive national security information, especially from former government employees with access to classified data. It also raises questions about the role of journalists in obtaining and publishing classified material, and the potential legal consequences for those who disclose such information.

The details

According to the Department of Justice, Williams 'held a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance' while working for the Special Military Unit from 2010 to 2016. She received training on properly handling classified information and signed a nondisclosure agreement. However, between 2022 and 2025, Williams allegedly communicated with a journalist over 10 hours of phone calls and 180 text messages, providing details that were later published in a book and article. The DOJ said some of the information Williams shared contained classified national defense information.

  • Williams worked for the Special Military Unit from 2010 to 2016.
  • Between 2022 and 2025, Williams allegedly communicated with the journalist.
  • In August 2025, the journalist published a book and article naming Williams as a source.

The players

Courtney Williams

A 40-year-old former U.S. Army employee from North Carolina who held a Top Secret security clearance while working for a Special Military Unit from 2010 to 2016.

Seth Harp

A journalist who published a 2025 book titled 'The Fort Bragg Cartel: Drug Trafficking and Murder in the Special Forces' and a Politico Magazine story, both of which named Courtney Williams as a source.

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What they’re saying

“Courtney Williams swore an oath to safeguard our nation's secrets as an employee supporting a Special Military Unit of the Army, but she allegedly betrayed that oath by sharing classified information with a media outlet and putting our nation, our warfighters, and our allies at risk.”

— Roman Rozhavsky, Assistant Director, FBI Counterintelligence and Espionage Division

“Let this serve as a message to any would-be leakers: we're working these cases, and we're making arrests. This FBI will not tolerate those who seek to betray our country and put Americans in harm's way.”

— Kash Patel, FBI Director

What’s next

Courtney Williams is expected to appear in federal court in the coming weeks, where a judge will decide whether to grant her bail or keep her in custody pending trial.

The takeaway

This case underscores the critical importance of protecting classified national security information, even after government employees leave their positions. It also highlights the ongoing tension between journalists' pursuit of sensitive stories and the government's efforts to prevent leaks that could compromise national security.