Retired Army officer charged with sharing classified information about Ukraine on foreign dating site

Washington — A retired Military lieutenant colonel was arrested Saturday and accused of illegally disclosing delicate nationwide protection data on a overseas courting website, in response to charging paperwork. 

David Franklin Slater, 63 — who most just lately labored as a civilian Air Pressure worker assigned to United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM)  — allegedly communicated with an unnamed particular person claiming to be a girl dwelling in Ukraine and despatched the person secret Pentagon paperwork about Russia’s warfare in that nation, court docket filings stated. 

STRATCOM is the U.S. navy combatant command answerable for nuclear deterrence and nuclear command and management and is headquartered at Offutt Air Pressure Base in Nebraska. Whereas working at STRATCOM, Slater had a Prime Secret Safety clearance, in response to the filings, and acquired coaching for the right dealing with of delicate authorities data. 

“Sure duties are incumbent to people with entry to Prime Secret data. The allegations towards Mr. Slater problem whether or not he betrayed these duties,” stated U.S. Lawyer Susan Lehr for the District of Nebraska. 

After retiring from the military in 2020, prosecutors stated Slater began working for STRATCOM in August 2021, the place he attended high secret briefings in regards to the warfare in Ukraine. STRATCOM confirmed he was an worker in its Directorate of Logistics till 2022.

Slater and the unnamed particular person mentioned the warfare over e mail and a web based messaging platform, in response to court docket paperwork. He was repeatedly requested about his entry to nationwide protection data, prosecutors stated. 

“Pricey, what’s proven on the screens within the particular room?? It is extremely attention-grabbing,” learn one March 2022 message to Slater. “Beloved Dave, do NATO and Biden have a secret plan to assist us,” the particular person requested in one other message. 

Court docket paperwork acknowledged that the particular person with whom Slater was speaking known as him “my secret informant” and urged him to cross alongside extra delicate data. 

“”Dave, it is nice that you just get details about [Specified Country 1] first. I hope you’ll inform me instantly? You’re my undercover agent. With love,” one message learn.

“My candy Dave, thanks for the precious data, it is nice that two officers from the USA are going to Kyiv,” an April 14, 2022 message learn. 

Prosecutors allege that in response to the entreaties, Slater supplied delicate data together with particulars that have been labeled as secret by the U.S. intelligence group. Such data, if disclosed, “might be anticipated to trigger severe harm to the nationwide safety that the unique classification authority was capable of determine and describe,” in response to the indictment. 

His civilian work with the Air Pressure started in April 2022. 

The costs towards Slater have been introduced hours after a member of the Massachusetts Air Nationwide Guard admitted he had violated the Espionage Act when he posted extremely labeled authorities paperwork — some in regards to the warfare in Ukraine — on a gaming platform. 

Jack Teixeira pleaded responsible to 6 counts of illegally retaining and transmitting nationwide protection data in a Boston federal courtroom on Monday and will withstand 16 years in jail. 

For his half, Slater faces one rely of conspiracy and two counts of unauthorized disclosure of nationwide protection data. He’s anticipated to make his preliminary look in a Nebraska courtroom on Tuesday and has not but been arraigned. 

An lawyer for Slater couldn’t be instantly recognized. 

Extra from CBS Information