Former Army Employee Charged Under Espionage Act
Courtney Williams, a 40-year-old former Army employee from Wagram, North Carolina, has been arrested and indicted on charges of transmitting classified national defense information to unauthorized individuals, including a journalist. The Justice Department announced the arrest, which occurred on a Tuesday, with formal charges and an indictment following on Wednesday. Williams is accused of violating 18 U.S.C. § 793(d), a provision of the Espionage Act.
Arrest and Indictment
Williams was arrested by the FBI and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury. The indictment alleges she transmitted classified national defense information to individuals not authorized to receive it. Specifically, these disclosures are reported to include communications with a journalist and unauthorized disclosures on her social media accounts.
Background: Special Military Unit and Security Clearance
From 2010 to 2016, Williams was employed by a Special Military Unit (SMU), identified in some reports as Delta Force, operating out of Fort Bragg. During this period, she held a Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance and reportedly had daily access to classified information.
She received training on the proper handling and safeguarding of classified materials and signed a Classified Nondisclosure Agreement, acknowledging that unauthorized disclosures could constitute a criminal offense.
Allegations of Classified Disclosures
Court documents allege that between 2022 and 2025, Williams communicated with a journalist via telephone and text messages. These communications reportedly totaled over 10 hours of calls and more than 180 messages. The journalist, identified as Seth Harp, reportedly identified himself and sought information about Williams' military unit for an upcoming article and book.
Following these communications, Harp published a book titled "The Fort Bragg Cartel: Drug Trafficking and Murder in the Special Forces" (Viking Press) and an article in Politico Magazine. Both were published on August 12, 2025, and named Williams as a source, attributing specific statements to her that allegedly contained classified national defense information.
On the day the article and book were published, Williams reportedly exchanged messages with Harp, expressing concern about "the amount of classified information being disclosed." According to the criminal complaint, Williams also communicated to her mother that she "might get arrested...for disclosing classified information" and referenced a statutory provision of the Espionage Act. She reportedly stated to a third party that she had been aware of potential legal consequences for such disclosures throughout her career.
"On the day the article and book were published, Williams reportedly exchanged messages with Harp, expressing concern about 'the amount of classified information being disclosed.'"
Content of Published Materials and Related Claims
The August 2025 Politico Magazine article detailed Williams' experiences as mission support for Delta Force at Fort Bragg. It reported her claims of experiencing sexual harassment and belittlement by men in her unit, including the commander.
According to the article, Williams filed grievances with the Army Special Operations Command inspector general and a discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. These actions reportedly led to retaliation and the stripping of her security clearance, with Williams stating she later settled with the military.
Reactions and Statements
Journalist Seth Harp stated on social media that Williams is a "courageous whistleblower" who exposed gender discrimination and sexual harassment within the U.S. Army’s Delta Force. Harp added that Williams insisted on being quoted by name and believed her actions were "above-board, legitimate, and admirable." He asserted that the indictment was an act of retaliation against Williams, rather than an effort to protect classified information.
In the August magazine article, Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell was quoted stating that the department has a "zero-tolerance policy for any kind of harassment."
The Defense Department directed inquiries to the Army, which did not provide an immediate comment. Politico, Viking Press (the book's publisher), and Williams' federal public defender also did not immediately respond to comment requests or declined to comment.
"Journalist Seth Harp stated on social media that Williams is a 'courageous whistleblower' who exposed gender discrimination and sexual harassment within the U.S. Army’s Delta Force."
Legal Context
The case is being investigated by the FBI Charlotte Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Logan Liles for the Eastern District of North Carolina and Trial Attorneys Menno Goedman and Matt Hracho of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. An indictment represents an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Williams' arrest occurred days after President Donald Trump publicly discussed the possibility of jailing journalists for publishing leaked national security information. Trump indicated he would pressure media outlets to reveal sources or face legal consequences.