Army Vet Charged With Leaking Classified Commando Unit Details

Courtney Williams, a 40-year-old Army veteran, has been charged with sharing classified information about an elite military unit to journalist Seth Harp. According to multiple reports, Williams worked at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and allegedly violated federal law by disclosing sensitive details that appeared in Harp's book 'The Fort Bragg Cartel' and a corresponding Politico article.

The FBI alleges that between 2022 and 2025, Williams communicated extensively with Harp, exchanging over 180 messages and more than 10 hours of phone calls. She is accused of providing classified national defense information, including tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by the unit. According to court documents, Williams expressed concern about the amount of classified information disclosed in the book and article.

Williams appeared in Raleigh federal court on Wednesday after her arrest on Tuesday. A magistrate judge unsealed the case against her, initially filed late last week. She was ordered held by the U.S. Marshals Service pending hearings set for early next week. The Justice Department stated that Williams violated a provision of the Espionage Act and multiple nondisclosure agreements.

Harp has defended Williams, calling her a 'brave whistleblower' who exposed rampant gender discrimination and sexual harassment within Delta Force. He criticized the FBI's actions as retaliatory and politically motivated. The book and article allege misconduct within the unit, including drug trafficking and murder. Williams is charged with one count of illegally communicating or transmitting national defense information, which carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

The case has raised concerns about free speech and the aggressive pursuit of media leaks by government employees. Previous administrations have also pursued legal cases against sources of leaks that aimed to expose government wrongdoing. The FBI's investigation into Williams' actions highlights the serious risks associated with unauthorized disclosures of classified information.

FBI Special Agent Reid Davis emphasized the reckless nature of Williams' alleged actions, stating they put 'the country, members of the U.S. military and the nation’s allies at risk.' Roman Rozhavsky, an assistant director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division, noted that Williams betrayed her oath to safeguard national secrets.

According to an FBI affidavit, Williams was cleared as a defense contractor in April 2010 and became a Department of Defense employee in November 2010. She performed duties within the special military unit as an operational support technician responsible for 'Tactics, Techniques and Procedures' used in preparation for and during sensitive missions.

Williams' access to classified information was suspended based on an internal investigation. She was debriefed in September 2015 and signed a nondisclosure agreement. The government alleges that Williams had been in contact with the unnamed journalist between 2022 and 2025, during which they exchanged over 180 messages and more than 10 hours of phone calls.

In a text message cited by the FBI, Williams expressed concern about the amount of classified information being disclosed, stating that she thought her explanations would not be published. She also mentioned in a conversation with her mother that she might get arrested for disclosing classified information. The investigation has identified at least 10 batches of documents gathered that Williams intended to provide to the journalist.