A military civilian at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, was charged in 2022 with electronically transmitting classified National Defense Information (NDI) to a person he met on a foreign online dating platform.
According to the indictment, David Franklin Slater, 63, of Nebraska, worked in a classified space for U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) at Offutt Air Force Base from August 2021 to April 2022.
The U.S. Department of Justice said Slater held top secret clearance while working there, a position he took after retiring as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army.
Mr. Slater posted NDI classified as “confidential” on a foreign online dating platform with reason to believe the information could be used against the United States or in support of a foreign country. It is alleged that the message was “intentionally, inappropriately and unlawfully” sent to the following person: You are not authorized to receive information.
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The inscription of the Department of Justice on its headquarters building in Washington, DC, USA, October 20, 2022. (Beata Saursel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“As alleged, Mr. Slater, an Air Force civilian and retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, knowingly transmitted sensitive national defense information to others in blatant disregard of his oath to protect the security and secrecy of the nation,” the assistant attorney general said. Ta. said Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Department of Justice intends to hold accountable those who knowingly and knowingly endangered our country by disclosing classified information.”
The indictment alleges that Slater attended a U.S. Strategic Command briefing regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine and was aware of information classified as Top Secret//Sensitive Information (TS//SCI).
Slater allegedly met a woman claiming to be from Ukraine through a foreign online dating site, and then sent her NDIs obtained during information sessions between February 2022 and April 2022. There is.
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David Franklin Slater is accused of sending confidential information to someone he met on an overseas dating site from February 2022 to April 2022. (Adobe Stock)
According to the indictment, a co-conspirator asked Slater to send her sensitive and confidential information, calling him her “lover’s confidential informant” and “secret agent.” .
At her request, Mr. Slater would send the person information including military targets and Russian military capabilities.
Slater is scheduled to appear in court in the District of Nebraska on March 5 and, if convicted, faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 for each charge. There is a possibility that
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“Individuals with access to top secret information are subject to certain responsibilities, and the charges against Mr. Slater call into question whether he betrayed those responsibilities,” said Susan Lehr, U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska. ” he said. “I look forward to continuing to work with the FBI and Air Force Office of Special Investigations to keep our nation safe.”
