The Department of Justice announced the arrest of Nathan Laatsch, a 28-year-old IT specialist from Virginia, on Thursday for attempting to share classified information with a representative of a foreign government. Laatsch worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in its Insider Threat Division and held a top-secret security clearance since 2019.
The investigation began after the FBI received a tip indicating Laatsch’s willingness to leak sensitive information due to his disapproval of the Trump administration. Allegedly, Laatsch communicated multiple times with an undercover agent he believed to be a foreign official, confirming his intention to share various classified documents.
Over a span of three days, Laatsch reportedly exfiltrated sensitive data from his workspace and prepared to transfer it at a designated location in northern Virginia. On May 1, he was observed placing a thumb drive, which contained classified documents, at the location. Upon retrieving the drive, the FBI discovered a message from him and several documents marked as Secret or Top Secret.
Following the incident, Laatsch expressed interest in obtaining foreign citizenship, stating that he doubted improvements in the United States. He continued to gather classified information until his arrest on Thursday when he attempted to deliver it. The situation highlights serious security concerns regarding insider threats within government agencies.
Source: www.foxnews.com
