FBI arrests CIA contractor for allegedly leaking secret defense, Middle East intel to journalist

The FBI arrested CIA contractor Ian Brinksman for allegedly leaking classified defense and Middle East intelligence to a journalist. The DOJ affidavit details Brinksman accessing Top Secret reports and sharing the information with the journalist, identified as Aida Chavez, who published it on her Substack, Capital & Empire. The leaked material reportedly covered Israel, US-Israel relations, and the ongoing war with Iran.

The FBI arrested Ian Brinksman, a 42-year-old CIA contractor with Top Secret security clearance, on Friday for allegedly leaking classified defense and Middle East intelligence to a journalist. According to the US Department of Justice, Brinksman accessed at least five Top Secret reports and shared the information with an individual, identified as "Individual 1," who published it on the Substack platform. The Jerusalem Post's analysis, along with reports from Ynet and the New York Post, identified the journalist as Aida Chavez and her Substack as Capital & Empire. The leaked material reportedly covered Israel, US-Israel relations, and the ongoing war with Iran. Brinksman is accused of sharing information that "reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security" of the US. The DOJ and FBI have not charged Chavez with any offense.