A civilian U.S. Air Force employee has been charged in federal court in Nebraska with transmitting classified information about Russia's war with Ukraine on a foreign online dating platform, the Justice Department announced on Monday.
The accused, a 63-year-old man identified as a retired Army lieutenant colonel who was previously assigned to the U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, was taken into custody on Saturday. He faces charges of illegally disclosing national defense information and conspiring to do so.
According to prosecutors, the individual in question participated in briefings held between February and April 2022 concerning Russia's conflict with Ukraine. Despite having signed documents promising not to reveal classified data, he allegedly shared specifics about military targets and Russian capabilities on an online messaging platform with an undisclosed co-conspirator posing as a woman residing in Ukraine.
The indictment states that the alleged co-conspirator repeatedly solicited information from the accused and referred to him as “my secret informant love.”
As of now, it remains unclear whether the accused has legal representation. His initial court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.
