A former CIA analyst, Asif William Rahman, 34, pleaded guilty today to unlawfully retaining and transmitting Top Secret National Defense Information, which was later leaked on social media in October 2024. Federal officials have described Rahman’s actions as a serious breach of national security.
Rahman, who had worked for the CIA since 2016 and held a Top-Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), admitted to accessing and sharing classified documents related to U.S. foreign allies and their planned actions against adversaries.
According to court documents, Rahman printed and photographed these documents on October 17, 2024, before transmitting them to unauthorized individuals. By the following day, the classified information appeared on multiple social media platforms.
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“Mr. Rahman betrayed the trust of the American people by unlawfully sharing classified national defense information he swore an oath to protect,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
“Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that the Justice Department will spare no effort to swiftly find and aggressively prosecute those who harm the United States by illegally disclosing our national security secrets.”
Rahman’s actions reportedly placed lives at risk, undermined U.S. foreign relations, and jeopardized intelligence-gathering capabilities.
Federal prosecutors revealed that Rahman took extensive measures to conceal his misconduct, including destroying electronic devices such as a mobile phone and an internet router used in the transmission of classified data. He discarded these items in public trash receptacles to avoid detection.
The FBI arrested Rahman on November 12, 2024, as he arrived at work. Since his arrest, he has remained in custody. Officials emphasized the gravity of his betrayal.
“With today’s plea, Asif Rahman acknowledges he betrayed the trust of his country by sharing classified information in spite of the risk to the United States and our allies,” said Robert Wells, Executive Assistant Director of the FBI’s National Security Branch.
Rahman pleaded guilty to two counts of willful retention and transmission of classified information under the Espionage Act.
He faces up to 10 years in prison for both counts combined. Sentencing is scheduled for May 15, 2025, with a federal judge set to determine his punishment based on statutory guidelines.
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