Courtney Williams Charged Under Espionage Act for Disclosures
Courtney Williams, a 40-year-old former Army employee with top-secret clearance, has been arrested and charged with willful transmission of national defense information, a violation of the Espionage Act. Prosecutors allege Williams provided classified information about a covert military unit, identified as Delta Force, to an unnamed journalist between 2022 and 2024. The disclosures allegedly included documents, photographs, and notes, some of which were classified as SECRET and subsequently published. Williams also made unauthorized disclosures of classified information via her social media accounts.
The charges stem from allegations that Williams, who held a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance, transmitted classified national defense information to individuals not authorized to receive it, including a journalist. Federal prosecutors detailed these accusations in a criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the charges, noting that if convicted, Williams could face imprisonment.
Read More: Manitoba Gun Owners Declare Less Than 2,500 Firearms in Federal Program by March 31, 2026
Allegations Detail Information Transmission
Court documents, including an FBI affidavit, assert that Williams engaged in extensive phone conversations and exchanged text messages with the journalist. Prosecutors claim she provided materials via a removable hard drive and emails, divided into ten document batches. These allegedly contained classified national defense information pertinent to her work at the Special Military Unit (SMU), where she had daily access to a broad range of classified material.
One account notes Williams’ role as a "signature reduction specialist" during her time with Delta Force, requiring her to sign a nondisclosure agreement. Prosecutors contend that Williams saved ten files on her computer titled "Batch for Reporter," which included personnel files from her tenure with the elite unit.
Journalist's Role and Williams' Apprehensions
While the complaint does not name the journalist, court documents reference an article and a book that highlight Williams and quote her statements. The journalist, identified in other reports as Seth Harp, wrote an article and book detailing Williams' experiences. Harp has called Williams' arrest a "vindictive act of retaliation" and described her as a "brave whistleblower and truth-teller."
Read More: Nine US Scientists Deaths and Disappearances Raise National Security Concerns
The affidavit includes text messages where Williams expressed concerns about the disclosures. In one message to her mother, she wrote that she feared being arrested "for disclosing classified information." She also allegedly texted someone, "I might actually get arrested, and I don’t even get a free copy of the book."
Official Statements and Background
An official stated that the disclosures put the country, military members, and allies at risk. Williams was arrested yesterday in Wagram, North Carolina. Court records did not immediately list an attorney for Williams, though she was appointed a federal defender. A family member declined to comment on the charges.
Williams, an Army veteran, was employed at the SMU, an elite commando unit within the Army. The information in question was reviewed and determined to be classified as SECRET. FBI Director Kash Patel posted about Williams' arrest on X.
Read More: Jeanine Pirro Appointed US Attorney for DC Starting August 3, 2025
