The U.S. Department of Justice on Monday charged a federal contractor with sending classified material to a news organization that sources identified to Reuters as The Intercept, marking one of the first concrete efforts by the Trump administration to crack down on leaks to the media.
Reality Leigh Winner, 25, was charged with removing classified material from a government facility located in Georgia. She was arrested on June 3, the Justice Department said.
The charges were announced less than an hour after The Intercept published a top-secret document from the U.S. National Security Agency that described Russian efforts to launch cyber attacks on at least one U.S. voting software supplier and send spear-phising emails to more than 100 local election officials days before the presidential election last November.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
While the charges do not name the publication, a U.S. official with knowledge of the case said Winner was charged with leaking the NSA report to The Intercept. A second official confirmed The Intercept document was authentic and did not dispute that the charges against Winner were directly tied to it.
The Intercept's reporting reveals new details behind the conclusion of U.S. intelligence agencies that Russian intelligence services were seeking to infiltrate state voter registration systems as part of a broader effort to interfere in the election, discredit Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and help then Republican candidate Donald Trump win the election.
The new material does not, however, suggest that actual votes were manipulated.
The Intercept co-founding editor Glenn Greenwald did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Winter's mother also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
While partially redacted, the NSA document is marked to show it would be up for declassification on May 5, 2042. The indictment against Winner alleges she "printed and improperly removed" classified intelligence reporting that was dated "on or about May 5, 2017."
Classified documents are typically due to be declassified after 25 years under an executive order signed under former President Bill Clinton.
The NSA opened a facility in Augusta in 2012 at Fort Gordon, a U.S. Army outpost.
The FBI and several congressional committees are investigating how Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election and whether associated of President Donald Trump may have colluded with Russian intelligence operatives during the campaign.
Trump has dismissed the allegations as "fake news," while attempting to refocus attention on leaks of information to the media.
Winner graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio in 2011. Investigators determined she was one of only six individuals to print the document in question and that she had exchanged emails with the news outlet, according to the indictment.
U.S. intelligence agencies including the NSA and CIA have fallen victim to several thefts of classified material in recent years, often at the hands of a federal contractor. For example, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden in 2013 disclosed secret documents to journalists, including The Intercept's Greenwald, that revealed broad U.S. surveillance programs.
Reuters
Mon Jun 05 2017
![Reality Leigh Winner, 25, a federal contractor charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for sending classified material to a news organization, poses in a picture posted to her Instagram account. - REUTERS Reality Leigh Winner, 25, a federal contractor charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for sending classified material to a news organization, poses in a picture posted to her Instagram account. - REUTERS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2017-06/81496718095_RealityLeighWinner.jpg)
Reality Leigh Winner, 25, a federal contractor charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for sending classified material to a news organization, poses in a picture posted to her Instagram account. - REUTERS
![South Korea spy agency says DeepSeek 'excessively' collects personal data South Korea spy agency says DeepSeek 'excessively' collects personal data](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/71738907294_TBDeepseek.jpg)
South Korea spy agency says DeepSeek 'excessively' collects personal data
DeepSeek also provided different answers to potentially sensitive questions in different languages, the NIS noted.
![China hopes Dalai Lama can 'return to right path', says its foreign ministry China hopes Dalai Lama can 'return to right path', says its foreign ministry](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/81739176588_tbtheDalaiLama.jpg)
China hopes Dalai Lama can 'return to right path', says its foreign ministry
China is open to talks about the Dalai Lama's future if he abandons his separatist stance, according to a foreign ministry spokesperson.
![Police ensure safety, smooth traffic flow during Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves Police ensure safety, smooth traffic flow during Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/61739174921_KKumaran.jpg)
Police ensure safety, smooth traffic flow during Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves
Seven roads around Batu Caves will be closed in stages, depending on current conditions, from midnight yesterday until Feb 14.
![Gov't considers national law to tackle plastic waste pollution Gov't considers national law to tackle plastic waste pollution](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/51739172768_NazmiNikAhmad.jpg)
Gov't considers national law to tackle plastic waste pollution
Nik Nazmi says current legal controls and enforcement are limited to local authorities and do not constitute a comprehensive policy.
![Paris AI summit draws world leaders and CEOs eager for technology wave Paris AI summit draws world leaders and CEOs eager for technology wave](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/71739170679_AIActionSummit.jpg)
Paris AI summit draws world leaders and CEOs eager for technology wave
Delegations will discuss managing AI's massive energy needs amid global warming and its applications in the developing world.
![President Erdogan arrives in Malaysia, personally received by PM President Erdogan arrives in Malaysia, personally received by PM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/51739173600_PresidenTurkiyeRe.jpg)
President Erdogan arrives in Malaysia, personally received by PM
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has arrived in Malaysia to undertake a two-day official visit to the country.
![New Zealand concerns mount as Cook Islands PM plans to sign agreement with China New Zealand concerns mount as Cook Islands PM plans to sign agreement with China](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/71739169613_tbMarkBrown.jpg)
New Zealand concerns mount as Cook Islands PM plans to sign agreement with China
Cook Islands' PM is heading to China, seeking a partnership in national development, including infrastructure, trade, and the economy.
![[COLUMNIST] Harnessing the power of methane from palm oil mill effluent [COLUMNIST] Harnessing the power of methane from palm oil mill effluent](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-01/51737690501_palmoil.jpg)
[COLUMNIST] Harnessing the power of methane from palm oil mill effluent
Malaysia's palm oil industry faces mounting environmental concerns, particularly regarding methane emissions from POME.
![Police in India pull the plug on British singer Ed Sheeran's impromptu street concert Police in India pull the plug on British singer Ed Sheeran's impromptu street concert](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2019-12/81576123490_TBEDSHEERAN.jpg)
Police in India pull the plug on British singer Ed Sheeran's impromptu street concert
Ed Sheeran was singing and playing his guitar on a pavement in the centre of Bengaluru ahead of his concert.
![Macron urges Trump not to hurt EU economy by imposing tariffs Macron urges Trump not to hurt EU economy by imposing tariffs](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-10/61729211988_EmmanuelMacron.jpg)
Macron urges Trump not to hurt EU economy by imposing tariffs
According to Emmanuel Macron, the introduction of tariffs against the EU will lead to inflation and higher prices in the United States.
![Revoke Ramadan bazaar licenses if traders sell it - PM Revoke Ramadan bazaar licenses if traders sell it - PM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/71739160623_BazaarTAR.jpg)
Revoke Ramadan bazaar licenses if traders sell it - PM
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says lately there have been certain parties who sold their licences for easy profits.
![Trump to announce 25% steel and aluminum tariffs in latest trade escalation Trump to announce 25% steel and aluminum tariffs in latest trade escalation](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/51739158919_DonaldTrump.jpg)
Trump to announce 25% steel and aluminum tariffs in latest trade escalation
The largest sources of US steel imports are Canada, Brazil and Mexico, followed by South Korea and Vietnam.
![Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship preparations among the best - PM Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship preparations among the best - PM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/81739155876_tbAnwarIbrahimJab.jpg)
Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship preparations among the best - PM
PM commends civil servants for effectively managing Malaysia's ASEAN Chair preparations, noting their efficiency and discipline.
![Macron signals investments of 109 billion euros in French AI by private sector Macron signals investments of 109 billion euros in French AI by private sector](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-10/71603816347_UKFranceElection.jpg)
Macron signals investments of 109 billion euros in French AI by private sector
AI requires huge amounts of energy to power massive data centres, with Europe seen struggling to meet future demand.
![Trump declares Feb 9 ‘Gulf of America Day’ Trump declares Feb 9 ‘Gulf of America Day’](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/71739152682_tbDonaldTrump.jpg)
Trump declares Feb 9 ‘Gulf of America Day’
Trump signs the proclamation aboard Air Force One while flying over the Gulf of Mexico en route to New Orleans.
![Bursa ends winning streak amid US data, tariff concerns Bursa ends winning streak amid US data, tariff concerns](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61722341186_BursaMalaysia.jpg)
Bursa ends winning streak amid US data, tariff concerns
The FBM KLCI declines 6.43 points to 1,584.48, triggered by Wall Streets sell-off on Friday.
!['No thanks', white South Africans turn down Trump's immigration offer 'No thanks', white South Africans turn down Trump's immigration offer](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/81739151635_tbwhiteSouthAfrica.jpg)
'No thanks', white South Africans turn down Trump's immigration offer
White people represent 7.2% of South Africa's population of 63 million, statistics agency data shows.
![Erdogan: Malaysia key strategic partner as Turkiye strengthens Asia ties Erdogan: Malaysia key strategic partner as Turkiye strengthens Asia ties](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/71739150990_TayyipErdogan.jpg)
Erdogan: Malaysia key strategic partner as Turkiye strengthens Asia ties
Beyond trade and economic collaboration, Erdogan emphasises Malaysia and Turkiye's shared commitment to international issues.
![Trump says US might lose patience with ceasefire deal over Israeli hostages' appearance Trump says US might lose patience with ceasefire deal over Israeli hostages' appearance](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/51738727270_tbDonaldTrump.jpg)
Trump says US might lose patience with ceasefire deal over Israeli hostages' appearance
Trump says the Israeli hostages released over the weekend looked like Holocaust survivors.
![What are Ukraine's rare earths and why does Trump want them? What are Ukraine's rare earths and why does Trump want them?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/51738839579_earthminerals.jpg)
What are Ukraine's rare earths and why does Trump want them?
Rare earths are a group of 17 metals vital for EVs, phones, missiles & electronics, power magnets with no known substitutes.