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Tags: DOJ, National Security, FBI, Fort Bragg, Classified Leak

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Former U.S. Government Contractor Arrested for Allegedly Leaking National Defense Information and Stealing Night Vision Goggles

Washington D.C., 30 Oct 2026 – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the arrest of a former U.S. government contractor for allegedly leaking national defense information on a popular social media site and stealing military equipment.

Press Release Number: 26-1293

Who Was Arrested?

James Thomas Ashbacher, 37 years old, of Spring Lake, North Carolina.

• Former employee of a private company that provided security and emergency management services at U.S. Army Special Operations Command facility in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
• Held a Top Secret security clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access since 2021 to perform his duties.

He was arrested by the FBI Charlotte Field Office on Tuesday, with substantial assistance from the U.S. Department of the Army’s Criminal Investigative Division (CID).

What Are The Charges?

According to the indictment unsealed Tuesday, Ashbacher has been charged with:

1. Unlawfully Transmitting National Defense Information
2. Unlawfully Retaining National Defense Information at his residence
3. Theft of Government Property (Night Vision Goggles)

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Leslie Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Logan Liles for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

What Did He Allegedly Do?

1. Photographed and Leaked Classified Military Operations:

As per indictment, Ashbacher photographed and removed without authorization videos and photographs containing images of classified military operations from the Special Operations Command facility.

He then transmitted the materials to a popular social media site. The classified materials were later re-posted by other users to a second social media site, amplifying the leak.

2. Tried To Do Damage Control:

After posting, Ashbacher realized the gravity. He sent a private message to a social media user asking to remove some materials and stated he was “trying to do some damage control.” This private message is now part of evidence.

3. Search of Residence Revealed More:

A search of Ashbacher’s residence revealed:

• A classified award write-up that contained additional national defense information – unlawfully retained at home.
• A night vision goggle system specific to a military unit within Army Special Operations Command that had been reported missing. The goggles were stolen from the government.

Why This Case Is Serious?

Fort Bragg is home to U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) – The most sensitive units including Delta Force, Green Berets, etc. Leaking images of classified operations from this facility is a major national security breach.

Holding Top Secret SCI clearance means he had access to the nation’s most sensitive secrets. Misusing it for social media posts is a grave violation.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Related DOJ Press Releases on Same Day:

• California Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS (Ammaad Akhtar, 34)
• Syrian Man Sentenced for Hacking Conspiracy for Assad Regime (42 months prison)
• National Security Division Announces First “Near Miss” Non-Prosecution Agreement with Extreme Networks Inc ($975,721 penalty)

Source: Justice.gov – Office of Public Affairs – 30 Oct 2026