US Army veteran charged with leaking classified information to journalist

2026-04-09 01:12:56 UTC / Reuters

By Kanishka Singh

April 9, 2026 1:12 AM UTC Updated 2 hours ago

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U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a rally in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, U.S., June 10, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

• Summary

• Courtney Williams was indicted by grand jury on Wednesday
• She used to work for a special military unit at Fort Bragg
• Trump administration has expressed frustration with media and leaks to the press

WASHINGTON, April 8 (Reuters) – A U.S. Army veteran was charged ​on Wednesday with providing classified information to a journalist for a book that alleged drug trafficking, murder ‌and corruption at a military base where she had worked, the Department of Justice said.

Courtney Williams, 40, of Wagram, North Carolina, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to “her alleged transmission of classified national defense information to individuals not authorized to receive it, including ​a journalist,” the Justice Department said in a statement. Prosecutors alleged Williams violated a provision of the U.S. Espionage ​Act.

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The case comes as free-speech advocates have raised concerns about the Trump administration’s aggressive posture ⁠toward media leaks from government employees upset with U.S. policies and actions.

Williams worked from 2010 to 2016 for a special ​military unit at the U.S. Army base in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and held a “Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance,” the ​Justice Department said.

Prosecutors allege that between 2022 and 2025, Williams repeatedly communicated by phone and text message with a journalist who was seeking information for an article and book about the unit. Williams and the journalist spent more than 10 hours on phone calls and exchanged more than ​180 messages, the department said.

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While court filings did not identify the reporter, journalist Seth Harp wrote a book published last ​year titled “The Fort Bragg Cartel: Drug Trafficking and Murder in the Special Forces” and an accompanying article that named Williams as a source ‌and attributed ⁠specific statements to her.

The Justice Department alleged that some of those statements contained “classified national defense information.” Prosecutors also said Williams made what they called unauthorized disclosures of national defense information through her social media accounts.

A representative for Williams could not immediately be reached for comment.

Harp said after the indictment that Williams was a “courageous whistleblower who exposed rampant gender discrimination and sexual harassment in ​the U.S. Army’s Delta Force.” ​He also said Williams ⁠wanted to be quoted by name in his work and cast the charges against her as “vague and weak.”

The Justice Department cited messages from Williams to the journalist from the time of ​the book’s release in which she expressed concerns “about the amount of classified information being disclosed.” ​She also messaged ⁠another person the department did not identify expressing fear that she might get arrested for the disclosure, prosecutors said.

Williams signed a classified information non-disclosure agreement when she joined the special military unit in 2010 and again when she left that job, according to the ⁠complaint filed ​against her.

Prior U.S. administrations have on rare occasions also pursued legal cases ​against sources of leaks to the media that have aimed to expose government wrongdoing, dating as far back as the “Pentagon Papers” from the Vietnam War and ​as recently as the Iraq war logs in this century.

Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Lincoln Feast.

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

4月8日，美国国务卿鲁比奥（右）在华盛顿特区国务院接见到访的北约秘书长吕特。吕特当天也与美国总统特朗普举行会晤。 （法新社）

美国总统特朗普周三与到访的北约秘书长吕特举行会晤，对北约在伊朗问题上“什么忙也没帮上”表达不满。

特朗普星期三（4月8日）与吕特举行闭门会议后在自家社媒平台Truth Social发文称：“北约在我们需要他们的时候不在，如果我们再次需要他们，他们也不会在。”

特朗普近期多次抱怨北约欧洲成员国不愿支持美国对伊朗的军事行动，称北约是“纸老虎”，并表示正在考虑退出北约。

在白宫与特朗普会晤两个多小时后，吕特接受美国有线电视新闻网（CNN）访问时说：“他（特朗普）显然对许多北约盟国感到失望，我能理解他的想法。这是一次非常坦诚、非常开放的讨论，也是两位好朋友之间的对话。”

吕特并未具体指明是哪些国家，但表示，他认为一些北约国家在伊朗行动中未能履行承诺，不过“绝大多数欧洲国家”都提供了帮助。

延伸阅读

特朗普抨击北约不支持伊朗战争 重申对格陵兰意愿
特朗普能单方面让美国退出北约吗？分析：须国会批准

白宫没有透露会谈细节。不过白宫新闻秘书莱维特在吕特发表上述言论前，引述特朗普的话说，北约在美国对伊朗的军事行动期间“没能通过考验”。

《华尔街日报》周三引述美国政府官员报道，特朗普政府正在考虑一项计划，旨在惩罚部分北约成员国。特朗普认为，这些国家在伊朗战争期间对美以的行动并不配合。

报道称，该计划将把美军从那些被认为对伊朗作战行动没有帮助的北约成员国撤出，并部署到对美国军事行动更为支持的国家。

据悉，该计划近几周来在美国政府高级官员中流传并获得了支持，目前尚处于初步构想阶段，是白宫正在讨论的几项惩罚北约的方案之一。

特朗普批评北约：在伊朗问题上什么忙也没帮上

2026年4月9日 09:27 / 联合早报

4月8日，美国国务卿鲁比奥（右）在华盛顿特区国务院接见到访的北约秘书长吕特。吕特当天也与美国总统特朗普举行会晤。 （法新社）

美国总统特朗普周三与到访的北约秘书长吕特举行会晤，对北约在伊朗问题上“什么忙也没帮上”表达不满。

特朗普星期三（4月8日）与吕特举行闭门会议后在自家社媒平台Truth Social发文称：“北约在我们需要他们的时候不在，如果我们再次需要他们，他们也不会在。”

特朗普近期多次抱怨北约欧洲成员国不愿支持美国对伊朗的军事行动，称北约是“纸老虎”，并表示正在考虑退出北约。

在白宫与特朗普会晤两个多小时后，吕特接受美国有线电视新闻网（CNN）访问时说：“他（特朗普）显然对许多北约盟国感到失望，我能理解他的想法。这是一次非常坦诚、非常开放的讨论，也是两位好朋友之间的对话。”

吕特并未具体指明是哪些国家，但表示，他认为一些北约国家在伊朗行动中未能履行承诺，不过“绝大多数欧洲国家”都提供了帮助。

白宫没有透露会谈细节。不过白宫新闻秘书莱维特在吕特发表上述言论前，引述特朗普的话说，北约在美国对伊朗的军事行动期间“没能通过考验”。

《华尔街日报》周三引述美国政府官员报道，特朗普政府正在考虑一项计划，旨在惩罚部分北约成员国。特朗普认为，这些国家在伊朗战争期间对美以的行动并不配合。

报道称，该计划将把美军从那些被认为对伊朗作战行动没有帮助的北约成员国撤出，并部署到对美国军事行动更为支持的国家。

据悉，该计划近几周来在美国政府高级官员中流传并获得了支持，目前尚处于初步构想阶段，是白宫正在讨论的几项惩罚北约的方案之一。

白宫：美中就伊朗问题举行高级别会谈

2026年4月9日 08:08 / 联合早报

白宫：美中就伊朗问题举行高级别会谈

白宫新闻秘书莱维特星期三（4月8日）出席记者会。 （新华社）

白宫星期三（4月8日）称，美国与中国就伊朗问题举行高级别会谈。

据法新社报道，白宫新闻秘书莱维特向记者说，美中政府高层曾进行沟通。她未提供更多细节。

美国总统特朗普在对伊朗最后通牒截止时间快到之前宣布，与伊朗达成“双向”停火14天的协议，美方同意暂停攻击伊朗，换取霍尔木兹海峡复航。

特朗普透露，他是与巴基斯坦总理谢里夫和陆军参谋长穆尼尔谈话后同意停火。他星期二（4月7日）告诉法新社，他听说中国也有份敦促伊朗接受停火。

中国外交部发言人毛宁星期三在例行记者会上说，中方一贯主张尽快停火止战，通过政治外交途径化解争端，中方也为此做出努力。

同日，谢里夫表示感谢中国、沙特阿拉伯、土耳其、埃及和卡塔尔，为促成停火提供了宝贵支持。

Dem lawmaker calls for TSA to bring back shoes-off airport security policy

2026-04-08T23:04:46-04:00 / Fox News

‘Allowing a potentially catastrophic security deficiency to remain in place for seven months and counting betrays TSA’s mission,’ Sen Tammy Duckworth said

By Landon Mion Fox News

Published April 8, 2026 11:04pm EDT

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., is challenging a ‘shoes-on’ policy for TSA, calling it ‘reckless’.

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Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., is demanding that the Transportation Security Administration reintroduce its controversial policy requiring travelers to take off their shoes before going through airport security checkpoints.

Duckworth called on the TSA to immediately reverse its move to end the “shoes-off” policy, calling former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s decision last summer to scrap the policy a “reckless act” that may put travelers at risk.

“Secretary Noem’s decision to implement a shoes on policy on July 8, 2025, likely without meaningful consultation with TSA, was a reckless act,” Duckworth wrote in a letter to Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill.

“Allowing a potentially catastrophic security deficiency to remain in place for seven months and counting betrays TSA’s mission,” she added. “At a minimum, TSA’s failure to swiftly implement corrective action warrants the immediate withdrawal of Secretary Noem’s reckless and dangerous policy that increases the risk of a terrorist smuggling a dangerous item onto a flight.”

NEARLY 20-YEAR SHOE-OFF AIRPORT SECURITY POLICE IS ENDED BY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

Sen. Tammy Duckworth demanded that the TSA bring back its policy requiring travelers to take off their shoes to go through security checkpoints at airports.(Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

This comes after a classified watchdog report found that TSA scanners cannot effectively screen shoes, according to CBS News. Duckworth said the inspector general flagged the issue as urgent to Noem but that no action was taken.

Duckworth said that the inspector general found that Noem’s policy shift had “inadvertently created a new security vulnerability in the system.”

The former secretary’s failure to take corrective action after the report’s findings was “outrageous, unacceptable and dangerous to the flying public,” Duckworth said.

The senator argues that TSA’s lack of response may violate federal law, writing that the agency missed a legally required 90-day deadline to outline corrective actions after receiving the watchdog’s report.

“Such inaction violates Federal law, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance and DHS’s own directives,” Duckworth wrote.

FLIGHT PASSENGERS SLAM AIRLINES FOR PUSHING EARLY BAG CHECKS EVEN WITH EMPTY BINS ON BOARD

Sen. Tammy Duckworth called former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s decision last summer to scrap the policy a “reckless act” that may put travelers at risk.(Rebecca Blackwell / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

The previous policy requiring passengers to take off their shoes during TSA screening was implemented in 2006.

The senator wrote that Noem’s policy change reflected a “willingness to gamble the American people’s security,” calling it a “stunning failure of leadership.”

“We expect this change will drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints, leading to a more pleasant and efficient passenger experience,” she said at the time. “As always, security remains our top priority. Thanks to our cutting-edge technological advancements and multi-layered security approach, we are confident we can implement this change while maintaining the highest security standards.”

Duckworth accused Noem, who was removed by President Donald Trump last month and replaced by current DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, of prioritizing politics over security.

The previous policy requiring passengers to take off their shoes to go through TSA screening was implemented in 2006.(iStock)

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The senator wrote that Noem’s policy change reflected a “willingness to gamble the American people’s security,” calling it a “stunning failure of leadership.”

“Secretary Noem’s willingness to gamble the American people’s security in an unsuccessful attempt to boost her popularity was, and remains, a stunning failure of leadership—particularly following President Trump’s decision to launch an unconstitutional war of choice against Iran that DHS has determined, “is causing a heightened threat environment in the United States,” she wrote.

4月8日，以色列空袭黎巴嫩南部城市西顿，现场浓烟滚滚。以军随后对贝鲁特发动一系列空袭，这是自以色列与真主党开战以来，首都遭受的最猛烈袭击，引发居民恐慌。 （法新社）

联合国周三强烈谴责以色列在黎巴嫩各地发动袭击造成大量平民伤亡，呼吁各方利用外交渠道停止敌对行动。

联合国秘书长副发言人哈克星期三（4月8日）在记者会上说，美国与伊朗宣布停火，为避免以黎之间出现更多人员伤亡提供了契机，强调冲突没有军事解决方案。

以色列总理内坦亚胡周三较早时说，他要求美国与伊朗的临时停火不得涉及黎巴嫩真主党，并表示仍将继续强力打击这个受伊朗支持的组织。

真主党周四（9日）宣称，向以色列发射了火箭弹，以回应以军“违反停火协议”的行为。

哈克周三说，联合国敦促有关各方遵守停火协议，通过谈判解决分歧，以实现永久停火。

延伸阅读

马克龙与美伊领导人通话 吁停火范围包括黎巴嫩
伊朗议长：谈判未开始 三项停战条款已遭违反

哈克同时强调，必须立即停止所有针对联合国驻黎巴嫩临时部队的恐吓或干扰行为。联合国再次敦促各方履行依据国际法应承担的义务，确保联合国人员及财产安全。

伊朗与美国停火后，以色列周三对黎巴嫩进行大规模空袭，据报空袭造成上千人死伤。

黎巴嫩总理萨拉姆宣布，4月9日为全国哀悼日，悼念在以军空袭中遇难的无辜平民。

以色列空袭致大量黎巴嫩平民伤亡 联合国予以强烈谴责

2026年4月9日 10:14 / 联合早报

4月8日，以色列空袭黎巴嫩南部城市西顿，现场浓烟滚滚。以军随后对贝鲁特发动一系列空袭，这是自以色列与真主党开战以来，首都遭受的最猛烈袭击，引发居民恐慌。 （法新社）

联合国周三强烈谴责以色列在黎巴嫩各地发动袭击造成大量平民伤亡，呼吁各方利用外交渠道停止敌对行动。

联合国秘书长副发言人哈克星期三（4月8日）在记者会上说，美国与伊朗宣布停火，为避免以黎之间出现更多人员伤亡提供了契机，强调冲突没有军事解决方案。

以色列总理内坦亚胡周三较早时说，他要求美国与伊朗的临时停火不得涉及黎巴嫩真主党，并表示仍将继续强力打击这个受伊朗支持的组织。

真主党周四（9日）宣称，向以色列发射了火箭弹，以回应以军“违反停火协议”的行为。

哈克周三说，联合国敦促有关各方遵守停火协议，通过谈判解决分歧，以实现永久停火。

马克龙与美伊领导人通话 吁停火范围包括黎巴嫩
伊朗议长：谈判未开始 三项停战条款已遭违反

哈克同时强调，必须立即停止所有针对联合国驻黎巴嫩临时部队的恐吓或干扰行为。联合国再次敦促各方履行依据国际法应承担的义务，确保联合国人员及财产安全。

伊朗与美国停火后，以色列周三对黎巴嫩进行大规模空袭，据报空袭造成上千人死伤。

黎巴嫩总理萨拉姆宣布，4月9日为全国哀悼日，悼念在以军空袭中遇难的无辜平民。

中国油轮驶近霍尔木兹海峡 或成停火后首批通行船只

2026年4月9日 11:55 / 联合早报

两艘满载原油的中国油轮在波斯湾驶近霍尔木兹海峡，可能成为美伊停火达成仅一天后首批穿越该海峡的船只。

据彭博社报道，船舶追踪数据显示，与中国国有企业中远海运有关联的“珍珠湖”号（Cospearl Lake），以及由一家较小公司拥有的“贺荣海”号（He Rong Hai），星期四（4月9日）清晨似乎正以接近最高速度在波斯湾向东航行。两艘船的追踪系统均标示为中国所有，这通常是在经伊朗批准通过前，出于安全考虑采取的做法。

由于多艘船只在最后一刻折返，加上过去一天通行情况变化不大，这两艘油轮能否顺利通过仍存不确定性。如果按照当前航向，它们可能在星期四稍晚时候通过，并将成为停火宣布以来首批穿越该海域的非伊朗大型油轮。

美国总统特朗普在对伊朗最后通牒截止时间快到之前宣布，与伊朗达成“双向”停火14天的协议，美方同意暂停攻击伊朗，换取霍尔木兹海峡复航。

此前，中国外交部发言人毛宁3月31日曾在例行记者会上受询时透露，经同有关方面协调，“近日中方有三艘船舶过航霍尔木兹海峡，我们对有关方面提供的协助表示感谢”。她并未透露船舶的名字或其他细节。

延伸阅读

美伊同意停火14天展开谈判 若谈不拢战事或再起
北京证实已有三艘中国船舶通过霍尔木兹海峡

彭博社和法新社根据船舶追踪资料报道称，两艘与中国国有企业中远海运集团有关联的集装箱船——“中海印度洋”和“中海北冰洋”于3月30日上午，通过霍尔木兹海峡驶离波斯湾。

US court dismisses appeal from former Honduran president Hernandez

2026-04-09 02:18:25 UTC / Reuters

By Reuters

April 9, 2026 2:18 AM UTC Updated 5 mins ago

Former Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez testifies before U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel during his trial on U.S. drug trafficking charges in federal court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., March 5, 2024 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

April 8 (Reuters) – A U.S. court of appeals on Wednesday ruled to dismiss an appeals request from former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and also ordered a prior judgment to be vacated.

The Reuters Iran Briefing newsletter keeps you informed with the latest developments and analysis of the Iran war. Sign up here.

Reporting by Iñigo Alexander and Laura Garcia; Editing by Himani Sarkar

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Democratic Senate candidate’s events with Hasan Piker exposes party rift in Michigan

April 8, 2026 / 8:11 PM EDT / CBS News
By Anne Bryson

Division within the Democratic Party over Israel was highlighted in Michigan Tuesday when left-wing podcaster Hasan Piker campaigned with Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed at Michigan State University and the University of Michigan.

El-Sayed’s decision to campaign with Piker has drawn scrutiny from across the political spectrum given comments the popular streamer has made on the Israel-Hamas war.

Piker, who has over three million followers on the streaming platform Twitch, is known for marathon streaming sessions that can last upwards of 10 hours. He has amassed a significant following of young, progressive men.

Hasan Piker, left, listens as Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan, speaks in a green room before a campaign rally, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. Julia Demaree Nikhinson / AP

In a brief interview with CBS News prior to the MSU event, El-Sayed responded to the controversy surrounding his appearance with Piker.

“The fact that this is the controversy to me, says everything we need to know about what D.C. focuses on. I don’t pay much attention to D.C. I pay attention to Michigan,” El-Sayed said. “Here in Michigan, people can’t afford to fill up a tank because of the war that’s being fought out of D.C. and have to suffer. The president is tweeting about his genocidal fantasies in Iran. He’s tweeting about the drapes in a building. So at the end of the day, like, I just don’t take my cues from there. We’re focused on reaching out to people who feel locked out of our politics because they cannot afford the basic needs of a dignified life.”

El-Sayed is facing two other Democrats in the August primary, Rep. Haley Stevens and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow.

McMorrow, like El-Sayed, has referred to the war in Gaza as a genocide and has said she will not accept campaign donations from the pro-Israel group American Israel Public Affairs Committee, better known as AIPAC. Stevens, however, is supported by AIPAC and has advocated for ongoing relations between the U.S. and Israel in videos she’s appeared in for AIPAC.

Stevens and McMorrow, along with the Anti-Defamation League and center-left organization Third Way, have criticized El-Saye’s association with Piker.

Stevens called El-Sayed’s decision to campaign with Piker “unacceptable,” and McMorrow told Jewish Insider, “[Piker] is not somebody that you should be campaigning with at a moment when there is clearly a lot of pain and trauma across our state.”

In the same interview, McMorrow said that Piker is “not entirely different from somebody like Nick Fuentes,” as he is “somebody who says extremely offensive things in order to generate clicks and views and followers.”

Piker has said the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack against Israel was the “direct consequence” of actions by the Israeli and U.S. government. And during a May 2024 stream, Piker said that it “doesn’t matter” if people were sexually assaulted during the Oct. 7 attack as it does not change his view on the dynamics of the conflict.

Piker Tuesday pushed back on Democrats who he says have criticized him amid the Iran war.

“A lot of prominent Democrats spent the last two weeks, instead of developing the appropriate response to Donald Trump’s mania, chose to repeat what corporate donors and foreign lobbyists and big donors had told themselves, including, but not limited to, Abdul El-Sayad’s opponents, Mallory McMorrow and Haley Stevens. And that’s exactly what’s wrong with politics in this day and age,” Piker told attendees at the Michigan State rally.

Michigan has the largest concentration of Arab, Muslim and Palestinian Americans in the U.S. In the 2020 election, former President Joe Biden won 69% of Dearborn, a city with an Arab-majority population. In 2024, however, former Vice President Kamala Harris carried just 36% of the Dearborn vote.

Progressive Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib, whose district includes Dearborn, and moderate Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell, whose district includes Ann Arbor, also attended the University of Michigan event. Organizers said the two events drew a combined 1,200 people.

Some attendees of the MSU event told CBS News that while they had come to see Piker, they were glad that El-Sayed was campaigning with him.

Joey Conroy, a sophomore at Michigan State University, told CBS News he wouldn’t support candidates who accept money from AIPAC.

“I think a lot of people have not been comfortable speaking out against things that are happening abroad like in Iran and Palestine, actions I don’t support as a voter,” Conroy explained. “So, seeing people who will speak out against that, like El-Sayed, speaking out directly about what’s happening in Palestine, is really encouraging and I want to support more of that.”

El-Sayed, a progressive who’s been endorsed by independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California, has long criticized U.S. funding for Israel and Democratic leaders like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who continue to support it.

Attendee Anna Gonzales, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, said it was a “smart decision” for El-Sayed to campaign with Piker because it will engage more left-wing voters.

“I think one of the mistakes that the Democratic Party makes is estranging the left,” Gonzales told CBS News. “They really cater toward more moderate voters and a lot of pro-Israel supporters. I think that they lose a lot of us on the left when they do that.”

Gonzales’ son, Ezekiel, who is in his late 20s, added that it seems as if Democratic leaders are hesitant to engage with left-wing streamers and creators like Piker, but at the same time the party is pushing Democrats to engage more with conservatives.

“When we have people more willing to go on Theo Von’s podcast and Joe Rogan’s and capitulate to the right, and then we see people like Corey Booker say, ‘I draw the line at Hasan Piker,’ it really shows the priority of the Democratic Party and the establishment on the left not wanting to be progressive,” Ezekiel said.

Tuesday’s events were held before President Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, which came hours after Mr. Trump had threatened that “a whole civilization will die tonight.”