Federal Government Contractor in Georgia Charged With Removing and Mailing Classified Materials to a

[blogslut]

Source: DOJ Department of Public Affairs

A criminal complaint was filed in the Southern District of Georgia today charging Reality Leigh Winner, 25, a federal contractor from Augusta, Georgia, with removing classified material from a government facility and mailing it to a news outlet, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 793(e).

Winner was arrested by the FBI at her home on Saturday, June 3, and appeared in federal court in Augusta this afternoon.

“Exceptional law enforcement efforts allowed us quickly to identify and arrest the defendant,” said Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein. “Releasing classified material without authorization threatens our nation’s security and undermines public faith in government. People who are trusted with classified information and pledge to protect it must be held accountable when they violate that obligation.”

According to the allegations contained in the criminal complaint:

Winner is a contractor with Pluribus International Corporation assigned to a U.S. government agency facility in Georgia. She has been employed at the facility since on or about February 13, and has held a Top Secret clearance during that time. On or about May 9, Winner printed and improperly removed classified intelligence reporting, which contained classified national defense information from an intelligence community agency, and unlawfully retained it. Approximately a few days later, Winner unlawfully transmitted by mail the intelligence reporting to an online news outlet...

Read more: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-government-contractor-georgia-charged-removing-and-mailing-classified-materials-news

---

I wonder which news story this was about?

(hat tip to Maddow Blog) http://www.msnbc.com/maddowblog

[geek tragedy]

1. seems like it's The Intercept's story on NSA conclusion that Russians tried hacking voting machines

[geek tragedy]

2. FBI just announced that this was in fact The Intercept's leak nt

[blogslut]

3. Thanks!

I guess that totally confirms the Intercept story.

[FM123]

4. Wait, her name is Reality Winner?

[blogslut]

5. Yep

Unless the DOJ press office made a typo.

[ToxMarz]

17. And stupidbabynames dot com is frantically updating their website

[shanti]

38. Apparently, she changed her name

It used to be Sara.

[SergeStorms]

57. And of course.......

nobody doesn't like Sara Leigh. What do I win?

[CentralMass]

40. Damn, welcome to reality.

[janterry]

6. Oh, no

and she's just 25. This could be a mess for her

[NobodyHere]

64. A mess of her own making

[janterry]

67. I know

but so young

[snooper2]

66. She can just change her name again, maybe this time to Inmate Leigh Winner

LOL

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. GD thread on The Intercept story

(there isn't one in LBN - is The Intercept an acceptable LBN source?) https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029162903

[blogslut]

8. I don't know.

I was hesitant about that Intercept story but Greenwald's name isn't on the byline list and all the reporters I follow on twitter were re-tweeting it. Then, as was evidenced in the DU OP you linked to, numerous other news outlets have confirmed the story.

I still don't trust Glenn Greenwald and would not cite anything with his name on it but, anyway

[still_one]

22. It is an accurate story. It has been confirmed by reputable news sources in the MSM

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/federal-contractor-arrested-for-leaking-classified-intelligence-to-online-news-outlet/

I really hope the Intercept did not carelessly handle her identity, which is how the arrest came about

[PoliticAverse]

30. According to the reports access to that data is monitored and records indicated only 6 people...

had accessed it. A search of her computer apparently found email contact with the news organization that
received the leak.

[still_one]

31. then either she didn't cover for herself well, or she knew exactly what was up, and

it was time to go public

In my book she isa pretty courageous person

[riversedge]

42. It seems so obvious she would get caught (just basing my thoughts on the account

in the story).

[still_one]

43. I agree. I am wondering if she wants a trial, but I don't think they will make it public

[riversedge]

44. I know nothing about her. I see Jullian A. supports her. dah!

[still_one]

45. Assange is grandstander. He doesn't want people to forget about him or ignore him

[riversedge]

48. yes, you are probably right.

[politicat]

46. I think she knew that, but the Intercept burnt her, too.

They published in such a way that it made the whistleblower-hunter's job easy by narrowing the focus.

The Intercept burnt her on purpose. I've got a feeling it exists as a honey trap for whistleblowers, because no organization with the institutional experience of what not to do with whistleblowers would do it again unless they wanted to send a message to other whistleblowers that they're not safe.

Washington Post looks like they may be the safest haven. They know how to protect their sources.

Fucking Greenwald.

[barbtries]

9. this is weird.

her name is unique. she has no presence on FB or Linked In as far as i can see. i can find no picture of her.

more than anything i wonder if she is a patriotic American trying to help save democracy or if she was bribed so much money it was worth it to her to take this risk.

i won't click on right wing sites.

[metalbot]

28. She very much has a facebook presence

https://www.facebook.com/RealityWinner

Her page, unfortunately, is not very locked down, and is currently being vandalized pretty heavily.

[ATL Ebony]

33. Her FB page is now unavailable.

[EL34x4]

36. Still there. Probably just overwhelmed with hits right now. (n/t)

[ATL Ebony]

50. Thanks, I'm curious and will try again.

[metalbot]

61. I found the defacement of her page really upsetting

This was a very normal girl, most of her posts being about her crossfit, various workouts, family, and cats. Her settings were set to allow anyone to comment on her posts, and most of her posts were public, so the comment streams are completely vile.

[ATL Ebony]

62. I finally saw her page. You're right, it's horrible.

[LiberalLovinLug]

70. Probably a lot of Russian Putin trolls.

Going after her for revealing more of their master's scheming.

IMO a lot more of the ones we thought during the election and primaries, and think even now, were Trump's online deplorable army were and are actually Russians.

[dixiegrrrrl]

52. She has an Instant Gram account.

I'll see if I can find it again.

[snooper2]

68. all kind of info about her

Bam

http://heavy.com/news/2017/06/reality-leigh-winner-leak-classified-information-nsa-top-secret-fbi/

[jberryhill]

10. .

Link to tweet

[bigtime]

12. bummer

nt

[jberryhill]

13. Not necessarily

Which part?

This arrest confirms the leaked report was genuine.

[bigtime]

19. great that the information is provided to the public

and then essentially confirmed by the actions of the FBI / DOJ. but a bummer for Reality Winner.

[still_one]

23. For me the bummer part would be if the Intercept had handled her identity carelessly, and

exposed her to the federal authorities, which allowed her arrest.

The only other hesitation I would have is if it would not have been better to wait until after Comey's testimony?

Also, does releasing information like this hurt the investigation, especially if there was more things to uncover?

I wonder if the Intercept should have held onto the story a little longer before going public

[barbtries]

11. who's gonna go after the president?

"Exceptional law enforcement efforts allowed us quickly to identify and arrest the defendant,” said Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein. “Releasing classified material without authorization threatens our nation’s security and undermines public faith in government. People who are trusted with classified information and pledge to protect it must be held accountable when they violate that obligation.”

at first glance this appears to have been leaked to the American people. What about Trump? leaking to the russians. who's the threat around here these days?

they'll make hay with this story so that the information it contains, which is damning to the country, is lost. they'll always do that. and they'll get away with it time after time. the story isn't the leaker; it's the russians and the trump administration. i do not want to lose sight of that.

i know this is all really speculative.

[jberryhill]

14. Yes and no

The arrest confirms the report is genuine.

[4139]

15. DOJ's "application for arrest warrant"

https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/971331/download


Adding on...
She's toast, she confessed!

[flibbitygiblets]

16. I'm sorry but that name sounds like something Trump would make up

"Hmm, what's the opposite of 'Fake Loser'? Brilliant, no one will ever suspect!"

[Blue Idaho]

18. Don't overthink this... he's not that smart. nt.

[still_one]

24. You are right Blue. This is a smoking gun. I just kind of wonder if it would have been

better for The Intercept to hold off a little longer before releasing it to the public

[Blue Idaho]

27. Excellent Question.

Why not present the whole case - lock stock and barrel?

[IronLionZion]

20. Some info on Reality Winner

Link to tweet

http://heavy.com/news/2017/06/reality-leigh-winner-leak-classified-information-nsa-top-secret-fbi/

[LeftInTX]

49. She looks like a kid

[IronLionZion]

60. 25 is an adult. Similar to Snowden and Manning

[snooper2]

69. here is a better pic

[still_one]

21. I really hope this arrest didn't occur because people at The Intercept revealed the leaker

to Federal authorities through carelessness.

I am wondering if the intercept had held off until after the Comey testimony if it would not have been better?

Regardless, this is a very courageous person. She not only risks prison, but she will probably will never be able to work again in her field of expertise

Very brave person

[Tommy_Carcetti]

25. Wait, this is a real story?

I saw the person's name as "Reality Leigh Winner" and honest to God I thought it was a second rate satire piece from some knock off of The Onion.

Reality Leigh Winner?!?

[madville]

26. She'll do a few years in federal prison

Probably lose any VA benefits she had previously earned in the military, never hold another security clearance or position of trust. This is a small one-off incident so after the initial day or two newsflash she'll quickly be forgotten.

They're gonna make an example of her to other federal employees in similar positions though, go for the max sentence from the government side.

[mchill]

29. This speaks for Career Civil Servants over Contractors

If you managed to stick out the 30 plus years, one was rewarded with a fairly decent pension. It tends to develop loyalty and esprit de corps. Of course, pensions have changed since the 80's, but that CSRS pension was developed for that reason.

[meadowlander]

73. +1

You never used to see inside security leaks like this before GWB and crew started to privatise the intelligence services.

[Goprox]

32. Did Putin lover Glenn Greenwald rat her out?

I don't know.

[JTFrog]

59. Something tells me that's the difference between Snowden and Reality.

Putin probably paid YUGE bank for all the Snowden intel. I still find the timing of the Russians hacking our election suspicious as hell. Where has Snowden been this whole time?

Covfefe.

[LiberalLovinLug]

71. My gawd what is with you Greenwald haters!?

its like bizzaro DU in here sometimes



He is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who speaks truth to power. He has his flaws but look at the big picture fer gawds sake. How many more and bigger news organizations are there that dominate that are either of the false equivalency breed that thinks it needs a horse race to make money, or the blatant right wing Trump cheerleader variety. He, and his paper are a breath of life into the dying shrinking world of hard hitting journalism. She probably purposely released it to The Intercept because she knew she could trust them to publish it.

[Goprox]

76. You don't become exempt of criticism when you win a Pulitzer

Otherwise Maureen Dowd would be a great journalist.

Glenn Greenwald is a Putin loving Hillary hater.

[LiberalLovinLug]

77. ....

[deurbano]

34. Charged under the Espionage Act? Seems she committed "espionage" against Russia, not the U.S.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/05/media-leaks-cybersecurity-espionage-239162

<<The Trump administration on Monday brought its first case under the Espionage Act, charging an intelligence agency contractor with leaking a classified document to a news outlet.>>

[still_one]

35. I hope the concern expressed about releasing classified information applies to Trump

and I hope he is held accountable

[inwiththenew]

37. I wish her luck because she's about to be made an example to serve as a warning to others

Ole Jeffey is probably licking his lips.

[bronxiteforever]

39. Fuck that racist fuck

[McCamy Taylor]

41. this has sessions written all over it

[riversedge]

47. Her facebook is interesting....

Lots of Hillary hate posts posted.


https://www.facebook.com/RealityWinner

[LonePirate]

51. Assange tweeted his support of Winner and The Deplorables promptly turned on him.

He supports her actions for helping to publicize classified information. The Deplorables are now pissed at him because they have deemed Winner a traitor for hurting their idol by leaking this report.

[Sunlei]

53. why is Pluribus International Corporation listed as a "small business"?

[nitpicker]

54. Link to BBC

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40168417

[TheFrenchRazor]

55. "threatens our nations security and undermines public faith in government"...like stolen elections?

i'm a whole lot more worried about stolen elections than i am about people making this information public.

[nitpicker]

56. Link to The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jun/05/russia-us-election-hack-voting-system-nsa-report#img-1

[mr_lebowski]

58. 'Classified' is damn near anything ... just because she had TS clearance doesn't make ...

the leaked information 'Top Secret', and nowhere does it say it was. All it says is 'classified' over and over. How many cans of beans there are in the kitchen on an aircraft carrier is 'classified' FFS.

And if it's the Intercept info, how the hell is that rightfully called 'national defense information'?

It's more like "Drumpf Defense Information".

And who the hell is dumb enough in a job like this ... to contact the media on their damn WORK PC ... and then proceed to hand over classified info they PRINTED OUT, knowing a record is made of said printout ... when that's done?

This whole thing, from her name, to the info in the article itself ... it's pretty damn sketch if you ask me ...

[bluestarone]

63. my question

is WHY THE HELL IS THIS SHIT CLASSIFIED ANYHOW!!!!! Don't we citizens have a RIGHT to know this after this much time has passed since the election??????????????? this should change a lot of the assholes (TRUMP PEOPLES) minds (you would think)

[jayfish]

65. Keep asking this question in as many settings as possible.

I know I will.

[LeftInTX]

72. Maybe because it is an "ongoing investigation"?

But we do have a right to know and this information should have been made public via an NSA spokesman.

Unfortunately when documents are leaked they may reveal investigative technologies/techniques that we do not want enemies to be aware of etc etc. Therefore they are "classified".

But there is no reason at all we should have not known about this. NSA could have told us.

[Blue_Tires]

74. Moron...

She worshiped at the altar of St. Snowden, and it is the Archbishop Greenwald who sells her down the river before her first leak story is even printed...

[benld74]

75. Per Democracy Now

She is Air Force veteran

They are saying to support her with all u got

She told all that Pooty said was a lie
She is fully anti Strump