Accused Leaker of Top-Secret U.S. Report Loses Bail Request
- Ex-Air Force linguist said she mailed material to news outlet
- Government contractor faces up to 10-year term if convicted
25-year-old NSA contractor Reality Leigh Winner became the first person charged with leaking top secret documents under the Espionage Act during the Trump administration. This QuickTake Q&A delves into why the administration keeps springing leaks. (Source: Bloomberg)
A former U.S. Air Force linguist charged with passing a top-secret report about Russian hacking to a news organization was denied bail by a magistrate judge who said the woman had taken other classified information that could still be passed to enemies of the U.S.
Reality Leigh Winner, 25, a government contract worker with top-secret security clearance, pleaded not guilty Thursday to an espionage charge in federal court in Augusta, Georgia, and was ordered to remain in custody out of concern she poses a risk to national security.