US IT specialist arrested after attempting to share classified information with foreign government: DOJ

A regime employee in Virginia was arrested on Thursday after he attempted to share classified information with an officer or agent of a foreign regime the Department of Justice publicized Nathan Laatsch a -year-old IT specialist employed by the Defense Intelligence Agency since was arrested after the FBI received a tip in March that someone was willing to provide classified information to a friendly foreign leadership Laatsch was a civilian employee in the DIA's Insider Threat Division and held a top secret shield clearance according to the DOJ An email to the FBI reported that the person later identified as Laatsch didn't agree or align with the values of the Trump administration and would be willing to share classified information that he could access including completed intelligence products particular unprocessed intelligence and other assorted classified documentation DEFENSE DEPARTMENT CONTRACTOR CHARGED AFTER PRINTING TOP SECRET DOCUMENTS TRYING TO LEAVE WITH THEM TO MEXICO Laatsch communicated with an FBI agent whom he considered to be a foreign establishment official multiple times and would confirm that he was ready to share classified information that he transcribed onto a notepad at his desk the DOJ revealed He allegedly exfiltrated the information from his workspace multiple times over a three-day period in preparation The FBI set up an operation at a northern Virginia park where Laatsch was to deposit classified information for the foreign cabinet to retrieve according to the DOJ He was observed by the FBI on or around May depositing an item at the specified location Once he left the DOJ reported FBI agents retrieved a thumb drive from the area identified to contain a message from Laatsch and multiple typed documents with information portion-marked for Secret or Top Secret levels His message allegedly indicated that he was sharing a decent sample size of classified information to demonstrate the types of things he has access to SUSPECT CHARGED IN LEAK OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS ON ISRAEL'S PREPARATIONS FOR ACHIEVABLE IRAN STRIKEOn May after Laatsch learned that the thumb drive had been retrieved he allegedly sent a message to the undercover agent appearing to say that he was seeking something in exchange for providing the information The following day he specified that he was interested in citizenship for your country because he didn't expect things in America to improve in the long term the DOJ declared He also allegedly reported he was not opposed to other compensation but not in a place where he needed material compensation Laatsch was narrated on May by the FBI agent that the foreign governing body was ready for additional classified information Between May and May he transcribed more information and began to remove it from the building by folding the notes and hiding them in his clothing On Thursday Laatsch arrived at a prearranged location in northern Virginia to drop the information off to the foreign country He was arrested once the FBI received the documents CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPHis first court appearance is scheduled for Friday in the Eastern District of Virginia