Update: Former CIA analyst Asif William Rahman, an employee of the CIA since 2016, pled guilty to the unauthorized sharing of classified information. Rahman held a Top Secret security clearance with access to Special Compartmented Information (SCI) at the time he made his fateful decision.
The Department of Justice filed an indictment against Asif William Rahman, a CIA officer in Cambodia (according to numerous media outlets) on two felony counts for retention and transmission of national defense information. Rahman has been identified as the individual behind the recent leak of highly sensitive and classified information acquired by the U.S. Intelligence Community which contained the Israeli plans and intentions with respect to counterattacking Iran. His indictment solves the mystery as to who placed the information in mid-October on a Telegram Account “Middle East Spectator.”
Analysis of the information revealed at that time that both Israel and Iran were on the radar of the United States intelligence community who was supporting the every present requirement to provide U.S. policymakers with perspective concerning world affairs, especially when conflict is a probability. Further review of the posted info showed that some of the information was originated by the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. In addition, the often discussed and never confirmed topic of Israeli nuclear weapons was allegedly also part of the trove of documents place on Telegram.
Rahman indictment
Rahman’s indictment is light on detail as to how he obtained the information. In fact, Rahman is described only as a U.S. government employee holding a Top Secret/ Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance. The indictment goes on to pinpoint his crime as having occurred on or about October 17, 2024 outside of the United States – Phnom Penh was identified. He was arrested in Cambodia on November 12.
Rahman’s actions seem to parallel those of Jack Teixeira who was recently sentenced to 15 years in prison. In addition, his actions, given the material comes from NSA, also is eerily similar to that of Reality Winner, who took highly classified materials and shared it with The Intercept. Winner, negotiated a five-year prison sentence. Other CIA employees in the past have shared classified information with the media and have also been sentenced to prison. These include
- Former Director of Central Intelligence Agency General David Petraeus did not receive any jail time for his sharing of classified materials with his paramour.
- CIA officer Jeffrey Sterling was sentenced to 30 months in prison for sharing classified materials dealing with a covert operation against Iran with NY Times reporter James Risen.
- CIA officer John Kiriakou was also sentenced to 30 months in prison for sharing the identity of a CIA colleague to media, related with the capture and interrogation of Abu Zubaydah.
Rahman will appear before a judge in the Federal District of Guam and is expected to then be transported to the Eastern District of Virginia.
