CIA agent leaked secrets about Israel – to advance his journalist girlfriend's career

Ian Brinksman, a CIA contractor, is accused of leaking classified intelligence about Israel to his journalist girlfriend, Aida Chavez, to boost her career. The leaked information included a CIA report warning of a civil war in Israel and internal discussions about an Israeli request to assassinate a senior Iranian official. Brinksman faces up to 10 years in prison.

Ian Brinksman, a 42-year-old CIA contractor, is accused of leaking classified intelligence about Israel to his journalist girlfriend, Aida Chavez, in order to advance her career. According to the indictment, Brinksman exploited his access to sensitive information and passed her reports that were published in five posts on her blog, 'Capital & Empire'. The information included a classified CIA report warning of a 'civil war and collapse of the Jewish state' amid tensions with Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, as well as internal discussions about an Israeli request to the Trump administration to assassinate a senior Iranian official. The investigation uncovered over 800 phone calls between the couple, some occurring minutes after Brinksman accessed the classified information. Brinksman faces up to 10 years in prison, while his girlfriend has not been charged at this stage.