predecessor U.S. Army A support specialist has been accused of leaking classified information to a reporter, and federal prosecutors allege sensitive military details were leaked over several years.
Courtney WilliamsThe 40-year-old served as a civilian operations support technician for a special military unit at Fort Bragg from 2010 to 2016, according to court documents cited by The Associated Press.
Investigators said she had a top-secret clearance that gave her access to highly sensitive material related to military operations, including tactics and procedures used in “sensitive missions.”
What information did she allegedly share?
Prosecutors say that between 2022 and 2025, Williams shared classified defense information with reporters Seth’s Harpwhich he later used in reports and a book about Fort Bragg.
While the charging documents do not explicitly name Harp, the details are consistent with his book “The Fort Bragg Cartel” and related reports.
According to an FBI affidavit, Williams and the reporter exchanged more than 180 messages and spoke for more than 10 hours. Authorities said the information included material she was not authorized to disclose.
In one message cited by investigators, Williams reportedly expressed concern about how much sensitive information was being made public, saying she was “concerned about the amount of confidential information being disclosed.”
Court documents also reference a conversation between Williams and her mother in which she allegedly acknowledged the risks.
“I could actually be arrested, and I didn’t even get a free copy of the book,” she said, according to the indictment. When asked why, she reportedly replied: “For leaking confidential information.”
Officials have taken a tough stance on the case. FBI officials said in a statement from the Justice Department that anyone who shares protected information would “compromise our national security.”
Reporter response
Harp defended Williams, calling her a “courageous whistleblower and truth teller.” His reports and books detail allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination within elite units.
He argued that the prosecution was “an act of retaliation,” suggesting Williams was targeted for exposing wrongdoing rather than endangering national security.
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Williams has been charged under the Espionage Act and ordered detained pending a further hearing.
Prosecutors allege her actions put U.S. military personnel and allies at risk, and the defense is expected to argue that her disclosures were related to exposing internal wrongdoing.
