Posted on 05/29/2025 6:24:55 PM PDT by God luvs America
An IT specialist employed by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) was arrested today for attempting to transmit national defense information to an officer or agent of a foreign government.
Nathan Vilas Laatsch, 28, of Alexandria, was arrested in northern Virginia and will make his initial court appearance tomorrow.
According to court documents, Laatsch became a civilian employee of the DIA in 2019, where he works with the Insider Threat Division and holds a Top Secret security clearance. In March, the FBI commenced an operation after receiving a tip that an individual - now known to be Laatsch - offered to provide classified information to a friendly foreign government. In that email, the sender wrote that he did not “agree or align with the values of this administration” and was therefore “willing to share classified information” to which he had access, including “completed intelligence products, some unprocessed intelligence, and other assorted classified documentation.”
After multiple communications with an FBI agent - who Laatsch allegedly believed to be an official of the foreign government - Laatsch began transcribing classified information to a notepad at his desk and, over the course of approximately three days, repeatedly exfiltrated the information from his workspace. Laatsch subsequently confirmed to the FBI agent that he was prepared to transmit the information.
The FBI implemented an operation at a public park in northern Virgina where Laatsch believed he would deposit the classified information for the foreign government to retrieve. On May 1, FBI surveillance observed Laatsch proceed to the specified location and deposit an item. Following Laatsch’s departure, the FBI retrieved the item, which was a thumb drive later found to contain a message from Laatsch and multiple typed documents, each containing information that was portion-marked up to the Secret or Top Secret levels.
(Excerpt) Read more at justice.gov ...
So the Insider Threat guy was himself an insider threat. Very ironic.
Kash’s and Bongino’s people have been busy. They have to clean out the nest before they can start fresh.
Hang him at noon as a message to the rest.
I almost expect a judge to jump in and say he can’t be arrested.
Let me guess... he thought he was dealing with Ukraine?
Possibly Germany; Last name is German
Same. I want to yell and throw things regarding the judges, but that helps nothing...and scares the dog.
Give him a fair trial in a military court.
After conviction hang him.
Then shoot him just to be sure.
L
Interesting...not wanting money from the other country, but just citizenship.
Kind of weird since he could apply for asylum or citizenship to a friendly country without the trouble of being a spy.
And what country would want to give citizenship to a known spy who sold out his own country?
I wonder if this guy is a member of a protected class.
Whatever country he reached out to, it is somewhere where he’d like to live and work, is considered friendly to the US, but would be still interested in what he had to offer, and presumably doesn’t align with Trump.
Could be.
The answer to why the “foreign government” was not identified became obvious in the full article. The government this guy contacted tipped off the feds. Another case of a Democrat who chose poorly.
They do this sh!t because they think they can get away with it, and they are righteous products of our secondary institutions.
“ In March 2025, the FBI commenced an operation after the FBI was provided with an email in which an individual—now known to be LAATSCH—offered to provide classified information to COUNTRY 1, a friendly foreign government.
Bets on “COUNTRY 1, a friendly foreign government.”
Disgruntled employee ... was fine with Biden, hates Trump.
When you work for DOD, your job is to protect America regardless of what you think about the occupant of the White House.
Israel gave citizenship to the unmitigated scoundrel Jonathan Pollard.
It happens.
“The government this guy contacted tipped off the feds. Another case of a Democrat who chose poorly.”
My thinking too. At least work with an ENEMY country if you’re going to risk decades in jail...for that very reason.
I’ve met other liberals who said they were moving to Germany because of President Trump. One was even offered free graduate school tuition.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.