Intelligence Employee Leaked Top Secret Information to Reporter With Whom He Was Romantically Involved, Feds Say

An employee for the Defense Intelligence Agency was arrested Wednesday on accusations that he disclosed classified information to two journalists, one of whom he had a romantic relationship with, the Justice Department said.

Henry Kyle Frese, 30, of Alexandria, was charged with two counts of willful transmission of national defense information, each carrying a maximum of 10 years imprisonment.

Federal prosecutors say Frese, whose government security clearance allowed him access to top secret and sensitive information, accessed multiple classified intelligence reports and leaked information about a foreign country’s weapons systems to a journalist. Authorities say some of the reports Frese accessed were unrelated to his job duties.

“Frese was caught red-handed disclosing sensitive national security information for personal gain,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers said in a statement. “Frese betrayed the trust placed in him by the American people – a betrayal that risked harming the national security of this country.”

Poll: Majority of Americans Say Military Action in Iran ‘Necessary and Warranted’

FBI and UFC Team Up for Unprecedented Training Program

Top Iranian officials stroll Tehran streets at rally before midday explosion

Florida Republicans send SAVE Act–style proof-of-citizenship voting bill to DeSantis’ desk

Iran war enters next phase of destroying entire missile supply chain: Hegseth

Democrat Rep Josh Riley blasted as ‘hypocrite’ over ties to energy firm he criticizes on campaign trail

BREAKING: University of Virginia Hit With Bomb Threat Triggering Evacuations

Sheriff warns Nancy Guthrie suspect could ‘absolutely’ strike again, hints at motive

Old Dominion University ROTC cadets disarm ISIS supporter shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ during shooting: officials

As NYC Considers a $30 Minimum Wage, Business Owners Are Warning About the Consequences

Michigan Synagogue Attack Suspect Identified as Lebanese Immigrant with an Axe to Grind

Hollywood Publication Variety Trashes Stephen Colbert’s Never-Ending, Anti-Trump Farewell Tour: ‘Not Very Good TV’

New Iranian supreme leader ‘likely disfigured,’ Hegseth says

Iran conflict could be push GOP needs for 2nd ‘big, beautiful bill’

GOP senator earns Dem backlash for ‘enemy is inside the gates’ comment about NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani

The unauthorized disclosures to the two reporters happened in 2018 and 2019. Prior to that, from August 2017 to August 2018, Frese and one of the reporters lived together and appeared to have been involved in a romantic relationship, authorities say. They did not name the two journalists involved and did not say what their media affiliations were.

In April 2018, after Frese accessed one of the intelligence reports, the journalist asked if he’d be willing to speak with another reporter, prosecutors say. Frese then said he was “down” to help the second journalist — a colleague at an affiliated but different news outlet, authorities say.

The journalist whom authorities believe had a relationship with Frese published six articles related to information that Frese leaked, authorities say.

Federal authorities said Frese was “captured” last month on court-authorized surveillance of his cell phone orally transmitting classified national defense information to the second journalist

“Henry Kyle Frese was entrusted with top secret information related to the national defense of our country,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney in Alexandria, Va. “Frese allegedly violated that trust, the oath he swore to uphold, and is charged with engaging in dastardly and felonious conduct at the expense of our country. This indictment should serve as a clear reminder to all of those similarly entrusted with National Defense Information that unilaterally disclosing such information for personal gain, or that of others, is not selfless or heroic, it is criminal.”