Politics
Former Defense Intelligence Agency worker pleads guilty to attempting to trade classified information
A former cybersecurity specialist admitted to seeking foreign citizenship in exchange for government secrets due to political disagreements.
The short version
- Former Defense Intelligence Agency cybersecurity specialist Nathan Vilas Laatsch, 29, pleaded guilty in federal court to trying to exchange classified data for citizenship in a friendly country.
- Court records state Laatsch pursued the trade because of disagreements with the Trump administration.
- Laatsch's official duties at the agency had previously included monitoring insider threats within the federal government.
Key facts
- Former Defense Intelligence Agency employee Nathan Vilas Laatsch pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to trade classified information.[The Washington Post]
- Laatsch sought citizenship in a friendly nation in exchange for the classified data.[The Washington Post]
- According to court filings, Laatsch was motivated by disagreements with the Trump administration.[The Washington Post]
- Prior to his prosecution, Laatsch worked as a 29-year-old cybersecurity specialist whose responsibilities included monitoring insider threats.[The Washington Post]
What remains uncertain
- The specific country Laatsch contacted and the sentencing details were not disclosed in the immediate reporting.[The Washington Post]
Sources
- Ex-DOD worker admits trying to trade classified info for foreign citizenshipThe Washington Post - Politics metered