Former US Military Contractor Arrested Over Alleged Leak of Classified Information on Social Media

October 31, 2026 | By Semahegn Nigatu

A former US government contractor has been arrested on charges of leaking classified military information on social media, retaining national defence documents at his home and stealing night-vision equipment belonging to the US Army's Special Operations Command.

James Thomas Ashbacher, 37, of Spring Lake, North Carolina, was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Tuesday after an indictment against him was unsealed, the US Department of Justice said.

According to the indictment, Ashbacher allegedly photographed and removed videos and photographs containing images of classified military operations without authorisation before posting the materials on a social media platform. Other users subsequently reposted the material on a second platform.

Ashbacher allegedly held a Top Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) through his employment with a private company providing security and emergency management services at the US Army Special Operations Command facility at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

He began working for the company in or around 2021, according to the indictment.

The investigation also found classified national defence information at his residence, including an award write-up containing additional sensitive information. Authorities also recovered a night-vision goggle system specific to a military unit within Army Special Operations Command that had previously been reported missing.

The indictment further alleges that Ashbacher privately contacted a social media user to request the removal of some leaked materials, saying he was "trying to do some damage control".

He faces charges of unlawfully transmitting and retaining national defence information and theft of government property.

The FBI's Charlotte Field Office is investigating the case with assistance from the US Department of the Army's Criminal Investigation Division.

Trial Attorney Leslie Esbrook of the Justice Department's National Security Division and Assistant US Attorney Logan Liles for the Eastern District of North Carolina are prosecuting the case.

The charges remain allegations, and Ashbacher is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Source: FSX Business News