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.”

Vance touts Trump economy gains during North Carolina tour, cites rising home purchases

Former Gettysburg mayor arrested on child sex abuse charges weeks after resignation

Breaking: Jasmine Crockett Security Officer Shot, Killed by SWAT Team

PR exec demands Senate Dems apologize for spreading ‘falsehoods’ about him during heated Noem hearing

Vance reveals $19B fraud uncovered in Minneapolis, hints California is next target

Man accused of attacking TSA officers, seriously injuring Dallas cop at airport

Manhunt for Louisiana man wanted in deadly crash who may have fled state or country continues into sixth month

Trump Kennedy Center’s new leader revealed as Ric Grenell exits top role

Cuban president reveals talks with Trump admin as fuel blockade chokes domestic energy supply and economy

High school senior charged with ‘random’ murder after 68-year-old woman found dead in Massachusetts home

GOP lawmakers would strip citizenship from terrorists after attacks tied to naturalized citizens

Prominent DC NeverTrumper Admits to Collaborating with Epstein in Bid to Take Down Trump

Trump says US ‘obliterated’ targets in strike on key Iranian oil hub

Judge Smacks Down Tyler Robinson’s Request to Seal Key Charlie Kirk Murder Evidence

Dem senators in the hot seat as Republicans rip their DHS vote amid terror threats: ‘Under attack’

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.”