DIA Insider Charged With Attempted Espionage

Nathan Vilas Laatsch, a 28-year-old IT specialist with Top Secret clearance working in the Insider Threat Division at the Defense Intelligence Agency, has been arrested and charged with attempting to transmit classified national defense information to a foreign government described as friendly or allied, whose identity has not been disclosed. Laatsch allegedly acted out of frustration with the current U.S. administration's policies and sought citizenship in the foreign country rather than financial gain. Authorities began investigating after a March tip and discovered he offered sensitive documents to an undercover FBI agent whom he believed represented the foreign government. Laatsch was arrested after making a dead drop of a USB drive containing classified materials at a prearranged location. FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the case as evidence of ongoing concerns about insider threats within U.S. intelligence agencies. Laatsch is expected to appear in court following his arrest.