RALEIGH, N.C. (RTWNews) — Courtney Williams, a 40-year-old Army veteran from Wagram, North Carolina, was charged on Wednesday with leaking classified information about a special military unit to a journalist. An FBI official emphasized that her actions put U.S. military members and allies at risk.
Williams has been accused of violating federal laws, including the Espionage Act, and purportedly breached several nondisclosure agreements by sharing sensitive information regarding her work with an elite group at Fort Bragg.
FBI Special Agent Reid Davis described the act of divulging protected information as reckless and detrimental to national security, stating, Anyone divulging information they vowed to protect is engaging in self-serving behavior that harms our nation’s security.
Williams was arrested and appeared in a Raleigh federal court, where charges were officially unsealed after initial filing late last week. She was ordered to be held by the U.S. Marshals Service as proceedings continue.
Details about the nature of the leaked information have not been disclosed, but they have been linked to an article and book discussing the workings of the Army’s Delta Force, authored by journalist Seth Harp.
A Politico article in 2025 titled My Life Became a Living Hell: One Woman’s Career in Delta Force, the Army’s Most Elite Unit featured Williams. Critics argue that her prosecution is a retaliation for her allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination within the unit.
Harp defended Williams, declaring her a whistleblower and asserting that former Pentagon officials share classified information publicly, yet she is being targeted due to her exposé on misconduct.
As the investigation unfolds, court records indicate Williams had extensive communication with the unnamed journalist, including over 10 hours of phone calls and substantial messaging.
The charges against Williams highlight crucial national security implications regarding the unauthorized sharing of sensitive military information.
