FBI arrests North Carolina man for allegedly posting classified information on social media
Summary
The FBI arrested James Thomas Ashbacher, a former North Carolina government contractor, on federal charges tied to allegedly sharing classified military material online, keeping defense records at home and stealing Army night-vision equipment. Prosecutors say agents found a classified award nomination and a night-vision system at his residence; the charges remain allegations.Key Facts
- Ashbacher, 37, is from Spring Lake, North Carolina.
- Federal charges include unauthorized transmission of national defense information, unlawful retention of defense records and theft of government property.
- Prosecutors allege Ashbacher photographed and removed classified videos and photographs of military operations, then sent them to a social media site.
- The Justice Department says other users later reposted the materials on a second social media site.
- Prosecutors allege Ashbacher privately urged a user to remove some posted material, saying he was trying to do damage control.
- Agents searching his home found a classified military award nomination and a night-vision goggle system reported missing from an Army special operations command unit.
- Ashbacher worked for a contractor providing security and emergency management services to the Army at Fort Bragg and held a top-secret clearance with sensitive compartmented information access.
- The FBI’s Charlotte field office is investigating with the Army’s criminal investigation division.
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