A shocking case of attempted espionage has rocked the US Defense Intelligence Agency, as an IT specialist has been arrested for trying to pass classified information to a foreign government. Nathan Vilas Laatsch, a 28-year-old from Alexandria, Virginia, was charged with attempting to share sensitive data with someone he believed represented a foreign government, citing his disagreement with President Donald Trump’s policies.
According to the Department of Justice, Laatsch had been working as an IT specialist in the DIA’s Insider Threat Division since 2019. However, he allegedly expressed his intent to share classified materials due to ideological differences with the Trump administration. In an email intercepted by the FBI, Laatsch stated, “The recent actions of the current administration are extremely disturbing to me. I do not agree or align with the values of this administration and intend to act to support the values that the United States at one time stood for.”
The FBI initiated an investigation in March after receiving a tip about Laatsch’s intentions. Undercover agents, posing as representatives of a foreign government, communicated with Laatsch, who began transcribing classified information onto a notepad at his desk over a three-day period. He then allegedly concealed the notes in his socks and lunchbox to remove them from the facility. On May 1, Laatsch reportedly left a thumb drive containing documents marked ‘Secret’ and ‘Top Secret’ at a prearranged drop-off location in a public park in northern Virginia.
Laatsch’s actions did not go unnoticed, and he was arrested at a subsequent drop-off location on Thursday. He is scheduled to appear in court in Alexandria. The identity of the foreign government involved has not been disclosed, but the DOJ described it as a US ally. FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the significance of the case, stating, “This case underscores the persistent risk of insider threats. The FBI remains steadfast in protecting our national security and thanks our law enforcement partners for their critical support.”
This incident is not an isolated one, as it adds to a series of high-profile cases involving US intelligence personnel leaking classified information. In August last year, Pentagon employee Gokhan Gun was arrested while trying to travel to Mexico with ‘Top Secret’ documents. Additionally, in 2023, Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to leaking hundreds of classified Pentagon documents on Discord. These cases highlight the ongoing challenge of protecting sensitive information and the need for vigilance in preventing insider threats.