Latest news with #TaylorAdamLee
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First Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Who is the US soldier arrested for selling military secrets to Russia?
A US Army soldier, Taylor Adam Lee, was arrested for allegedly attempting to leak sensitive information about American battle tanks to Russia in exchange for citizenship. The 22-year-old soldier, who possessed a very high, top-secret clearance, shared an SD memory card that contained sensitive information on US military capabilities read more Lee, an active-duty personnel, reportedly met in person with someone he thought was a representative of the Russian government. Image courtesy: Fort Bliss A 22-year-old US Army soldier has been arrested for allegedly trying to leak over sensitive information about American battle tanks to the Russian government, as per authorities. According to a press release from the Department of Justice, Taylor Adam Lee, who is an active-duty service member stationed at Fort Bliss and possesses a very high, top-secret clearance, passed on sensitive information to a person he believed was a Russian Ministry of Defence representative. In exchange, he wanted Russian citizenship. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Federal authorities said Lee was arrested on Wednesday in El Paso. He now faces serious federal charges, including the attempted transmission of national defence information to a foreign adversary and the attempted export of controlled technical data. So who exactly is Taylor Adam Lee? How did he allegedly share the top-secret details with Russia? And how was he caught? Here's what we know so far. 'USA is not happy with me' Lee's alleged attempts to share classified military information with Russia began earlier this year, around May, according to the Department of Justice. By June, officials say he had already expressed frustration with the US government in a message to someone he believed was a Russian official. 'The USA is not happy with me for trying to expose their weaknesses,' he allegedly wrote, before adding: 'At this point I'd even volunteer to assist the Russian federation when I'm there in any way.' In July, Lee reportedly met in person with someone he thought was a representative of the Russian government. During that meeting, authorities say he handed over an SD memory card and explained the sensitive information on US military capabilities. By June, officials say he had already expressed frustration with the US government in a message to someone he believed was a Russian official. Representational image. Pexels The documents on the card included technical details about the M1A2 Abrams, the US Army's main battle tank, as well as data on another armoured vehicle and broader combat operations. Later in the same month, after a conversation about a particular component used inside a tank, Lee allegedly dropped off the physical part at a storage unit in El Paso. Once the handoff was complete, he sent a follow-up message to his supposed Russian contact, 'mission accomplished.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lee accused of 'betraying' US After a warrant for Taylor Lee's arrest was filed in the El Paso federal court on Tuesday, the 22-year-old made his first appearance before the court the next day. Investigators accused Lee of 'betraying" the US and have used his arrest to send a warning to anyone else considering leaking military intelligence. 'Today's arrest is a message to anyone thinking about betraying the US – especially service members who have sworn to protect our homeland,' Roman Rozhavsky, assistant director of the FBI's counter-intelligence division, told The Telegraph. Brigadier General Sean F Stinchon, who leads the Army Counterintelligence Command, echoed the warning, calling the case 'an alarming reminder of the serious threat' the US Army faces from within. 'Thanks to the hard work of Army Counterintelligence Command Special Agents and our FBI partners, Soldiers who violate their oath and become insider threats will absolutely be caught and brought to justice, and we will continue to protect Army personnel and safeguard equipment,' Stinchon said in a statement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rise in military espionage cases in the US Lee's case comes at a time when the US military is dealing with a growing number of insider threats and digital espionage cases. Earlier this year, Chinese intelligence agents had been approaching US service members online, trying to persuade them to hand over sensitive information about military exercises and radar technology in return for thousands of dollars. In another high-profile case, former Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira was sentenced to 15 years in prison last year after he leaked classified documents related to the Russia-Ukraine war on Discord, a messaging app popular with gamers. Jack Teixeira in a photo his mother posted on social media. He was arrested by the Pentagon. More recently, a retired Army officer who had been working as a civilian Air Force employee pleaded guilty to sharing Russia-Ukraine war details on a dating app. 'These incidents show just how serious the threat is,' Brigadier General Stinchon said. 'Soldiers who violate their oath and become insider threats will absolutely be caught and brought to justice.' With input from agencies
NZ Herald
5 days ago
- NZ Herald
US soldier charged with espionage for trying to share tank secrets with Russia
A US soldier has been arrested for attempting to share classified information about vulnerabilities in the US Army's main battle tank with Russia in exchange for citizenship, the Justice Department has announced. Taylor Adam Lee, 22, who is stationed at Fort Bliss in Texas, was charged under the Espionage Act
CBS News
5 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Texas-based U.S. Army soldier charged with espionage after trying to leak tank secrets to Russia, prosecutors say
A Texas-based U.S. Army soldier with top-secret clearance has been arrested for allegedly trying to pass national defense secrets to Russia, including sensitive data on the M1A2 Abrams tank and what appeared to be a secret tank part. Taylor Adam Lee, a 22-year-old active-duty soldier stationed at Fort Bliss, was taken into custody Wednesday in El Paso. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas, Lee is accused of attempting to transmit national defense information to Russia's Ministry of Defense and to export controlled technical data without a license. Prosecutors say Lee tried to establish contact with Russian officials between May and August, sending export-controlled data on the M1A2 Abrams tank online in June. At that time, according to federal investigators, Lee said: "The USA is not happy with me for trying to expose their weaknesses," adding, "At this point, I'd even volunteer to assist the Russian Federation when I'm there in any way." In July, Lee met with someone he believed was a representative of the Russian government and handed over an SD card containing sensitive documents. During the meeting, he repeatedly emphasized that the information was likely classified, according to prosecutors. On July 31, Lee delivered what appeared to be a classified tank component to a storage unit, messaging "Mission accomplished," prosecutors say. The SD card contained technical data on the M1A2 Abrams and another armored vehicle, combat operations information, and documents marked Controlled Unclassified Information, according to prosecutors. "Our enemies, both foreign and domestic, should be aware that we diligently investigate and aggressively prosecute these cases," said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. "Lee allegedly violated his duty to protect the United States in favor of providing national defense information to the Russian government," said Steven J. Jensen, assistant director in charge of the FBI's Washington Field Office. "The FBI is steadfast in our commitment to protect U.S. national security and bring to justice those who seek to undermine it." "This arrest is an alarming reminder of the serious threat facing our U.S. Army," said Brig. Gen. Sean F. Stinchon, commanding general of Army Counterintelligence Command. Stinchon said soldiers "who violate their oath and become insider threats will absolutely be caught and brought to justice." The prosecution is led by the FBI Washington Field Office, Army Counterintelligence Command, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas.
Epoch Times
5 days ago
- Epoch Times
Active-Duty US Army Soldier Charged With Allegedly Leaking Military Secrets to Russia
The Justice Department announced on Wednesday that it has charged an active-duty soldier for allegedly attempting to transmit national defense information to a foreign adversary, among other counts. Taylor Adam Lee, 22, is accused in a criminal complaint of seeking to 'transmit sensitive national defense information to Russia' relating to how to operate the United States' primary battle tank, the M1 Abrams, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said in a statement.
Washington Post
5 days ago
- Washington Post
U.S. soldier offered Russia classified info on tank weaknesses, FBI says
A U.S. soldier has been arrested for attempting to share classified information about vulnerabilities in the Army's main battle tank with Russia in exchange for citizenship, the Justice Department announced Wednesday evening. Taylor Adam Lee, 22, who is stationed at Fort Bliss in Texas, was charged under the Espionage Act and the Arms Export Control Act, according to the arrest warrant dated Tuesday. The Army did not immediately return a request for Lee's rank and service history.
