Latest news with #TopSecret
Hindustan Times
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Nathan Vilas Laatsch: US govt employee arrested for attempting to leak classified info to a foreign government
Nathan Vilas Laatsch, a 28-year-old Alexandria resident, has been arrested for allegedly attempting to provide classified information to a foreign government. Laatsch has worked as a civilian employee for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) since 2019. He was assigned to the agency's Insider Threat Division and held a Top Secret security clearance. According to federal officials, Laatsch came under scrutiny in March 2025, when he allegedly offered to share classified materials with a foreign government, expressing discontent with the current US administration's values. The materials he allegedly intended to share included 'completed intelligence products, some unprocessed intelligence, and other assorted classified documentation,' according to the Department of Justice. The FBI launched an investigation after receiving a tip about a potential leak. Undercover agents posed as representatives of the foreign government during a operation. 'After multiple communications with an FBI agent — who Laatsch allegedly believed to be an official of the foreign government — Laatsch began transcribing classified information to a notepad at his desk and, over the course of approximately three days, repeatedly exfiltrated the information from his workspace. Laatsch subsequently confirmed to the FBI agent that he was prepared to transmit the information,' a press release from the Department of Justice stated. "FBI implemented an operation at a public park in northern Virginia, where Laatsch believed he would deposit the classified information for the foreign government to retrieve. On or about May 1, 2025, FBI surveillance observed Laatsch proceed to the specified location and deposit an item. Following Laatsch's departure, the FBI retrieved the item, which was a thumb drive later found to contain a message from Laatsch and multiple typed documents, each containing information that was portion-marked up to the Secret or Top Secret levels." On May 7, Laatsch reportedly sent a message indicating he expected something in return for continuing to supply classified information. The following day, he clarified that he was seeking citizenship in the foreign country. On May 29, Laatsch allegedly attempted to transmit additional classified documents at another prearranged drop-off site in northern Virginia. He was arrested at the scene by FBI agents shortly after handing over the materials. He is now facing serious federal charges related to the attempted transmission of classified national defense information to a foreign entity.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Former CIA official admits to mishandling information, working as foreign agent
ALEXANDRIA, Va. () — A former CIA official faces multiple years in prison for mishandling classified materials and acting as a foreign agent over the course of multiple years. Dale Britt Bendler, 68, of Miami, Fla., started working as a full-time contractor with the CIA back in 2014. As part of his job, he had Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance. From July 2017 through at least July 2020, Bendler secretly worked with a U.S. lobbying firm to engage in 'unauthorized and hidden lobbying and public relations activities' on behalf of foreign principals — all while still being a full-time contractor at the CIA, the U.S. Attorney's Office () detailed in court documents. West Potomac High School students return to new security measures after teen stabbed Foreign and domestic clients would hire the lobbying firm to help resolve specific issues, often involving the U.S. government or a foreign government. Typically, the foreign client would hire the firm, and then the firm would, in turn, hire Bendler as a consultant. His rate for some clients was as much as $20,000 per month. '[Bendler] concealed the true nature of his work from his CIA colleagues, often misleading and manipulating them to further his foreign [clients'] interests,' court documents read. One of his clients, for example, was under investigation by a foreign country regarding allegations of embezzlement of that country's state funds. The client hired Bendler to respond to the investigation by mounting a public relations campaign to rebut the allegations and lobby government officials. Another one of his clients was concerned about allegations that he was involved in laundering money for a foreign terrorist organization. He believed those allegations prevented him from obtaining a U.S. visa. That client hired Bendler to investigate the origin of the terrorism financing allegations, rebut them, repair any damage caused and help him obtain a visa. Police: 2 officers shot during traffic stop in Fairfax County; suspect dead While working with these clients, Bendler abused his access to CIA resources and personnel by searching classified systems for any information related to his clients, improperly storing and disclosing classified information and lying to the CIA and FBI about his status as a foreign agent, the USAO detailed. His contract was officially terminated and his security clearance and access were revoked by the CIA in September 2020, after officials learned about his work for foreign clients. In total, between July 2017 and September 2020, Bendler was paid about $360,000 for his undisclosed work. He pleaded guilty to acting as a foreign agent required to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act and removing classified material from authorized locations without authority and with the intent to retain such material at an unauthorized location. In addition to pleading guilty, Bendler consented to the forfeiture of $85,000. He faces up to seven years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 16. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Euronews
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
'Top Gun' and Batman star Val Kilmer dies aged 65
ADVERTISEMENT American actor Val Kilmer has died aged 65 from pneumonia, according to his daughter Mercedes Kilmer. Kilmer passed away on Tuesday night in Los Angeles surrounded by family and friends. The "Batman" and "The Doors" star had previously survived a 2014 throat cancer diagnosis that required two tracheotomies. 'I have behaved poorly. I have behaved bravely. I have behaved bizarrely to some. I deny none of this and have no regrets because I have lost and found parts of myself that I never knew existed,' the actor said of his life and career in a 2021 documentary. 'And I am blessed.' Kilmer was the youngest actor to ever be accepted into the prestigious Julliard School at he time he attended. He earned his big break in 1984's spy spoof "Top Secret!" followed by comedy "Real Genius" in 1985. His career hit its peak in the early 1990s as he made a name for himself as leading man in 1993's "Tombstone", as Elvis' ghost in "True Romance" and as a bank-robbing demolition expert in Michael Mann's 1995 film "Heat" alongside industry heavyweights Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. Actor Val Kilmer, left, and producer Eddy Moretti pose for a portrait in New York, Tuesday, April 24, 2012. Charles Sykes/AP The actor was known for throwing himself into his roles, subscribing to the Method branch of Suzuki arts training. When playing Jim Morrison in "The Doors" he wore leather pants and asked castmates and crew to only refer to him as Jim Morrison throughout the duration of filming. Kilmer's intensity gave him a reputation he was difficult to work with, something he grudgingly agreed with later in life. He defended himself by emphasising art should come before commerce. 'In an unflinching attempt to empower directors, actors and other collaborators to honour the truth and essence of each project, an attempt to breathe Suzukian life into a myriad of Hollywood moments, I had been deemed difficult and alienated the head of every major studio,' he wrote in his memoir, 'I'm Your Huckleberry.' One career nadir was playing the titular Batman in Joel Schumacher's goofy 'Batman Forever alongside Nicole Kidman, for which he received lacklustre reviews. Kilmer blamed much of his performance on his suit. 'When you're in it, you can barely move and people have to help you stand up and sit down,' Kilmer is quoted as saying of the costume. "It was a struggle for me to get a performance past the suit." He is survived by his former wife Joanne Whalley and their two children, Mercedes and Jack.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Yahoo
Former DOD worker pleads guilty to taking classified documents
WASHINGTON () — A former employee for the Department of Defense (DOD) pled guilty last week to taking classified and 'Top Secret' documents, according to the . According to court documents, 51-year-old Gokhan Gun, of Falls Church worked at the DOD as a civilian electrical engineer. Officials said Gun was born in Istanbul, Turkey, and is a dual citizen of Turkey and the United States. During his employment, he possessed a Top Secret security clearance and had access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI). Starting in May 2024, Gun removed at least five classified documents from the DOD, with the intent to keep them at this home. According to the attorney's office, Gun was not given permission to remove these documents from his office. DC man sentenced to 35 years for rape, kidnapping in 2023 On Aug. 9, Gun was scheduled to take a flight to Mexico. However, when FBI agents observed a ride-share service arrive at his home, they took him into custody. While searching Gun's home, agents found a backpack with a 'Top Secret' document and a notebook with notes that detailed the report. In the dining room, agents found more classified documents, one of which Gun printed just two days before his flight to Mexico. Gun faces up to five years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for June 17. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Peterborough railway in 80s Bond movie wants more screen roles
The chairman of a heritage railway that featured in a 1980s Bond movie has said more filming would be "terrific".Peterborough's Nene Valley Railway (NVR) - which is facing "unprecedented financial pressures" - has featured in 150 commercials, TV programmes and films, including Octopussy, which starred Roger Moore as the city council has announced plans for a film office to promote the area as a TV and movie location, and NVR will feature in a promotional video."Octopussy as a feature film, back in the 1980s - the income from that was immense," said NVR's Michael Purcell. "They would build steps and things, which they left behind and [that would] help us. "It is a good source of income. Our volunteers get involved and it's good fun when it happens."Mr Purcell added more filming would be "terrific" and NVR was "very eager to be part of [it]".NVR also featured in the 1984 spoof spy movie, Top Secret, with Val Kilmer, and The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission (1985), a World War Two action in the soap Eastenders and TV crime drama Silent Witness have also been filmed on the platforms. The council has said it hoped the film office would capitalise on a growing market for movie creation outside well as NVR, the city's lido, embankment and Central Park are thought to be promising filming locations. In May 2024, NVR appealed for funds, setting a target of £300,000. So far, £87,000 has been electricity costs have been reduced thanks to a grant for solar Mr Purcell said it still faced the expense of water, coal and essential repairs and said: "Once upon a time, people would come to steam railways just to buy a ticket and sit behind a steam locomotive, but all heritage railways are finding that's just not enough anymore, we have to be more event based. "We still want to run the railway... but events bring people in and return income." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
