A former CIA analyst admitted guilt on Tuesday to illegally retaining and transmitting Top Secret National Defense Information, which was later shared publicly on social media in October 2024.
Asif William Rahman, 34, of Vienna, Virginia, worked at the CIA since 2016 and held a Top-Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), according to court documents.
“Rahman betrayed his oath and jeopardized national security by unlawfully disclosing classified information,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “This guilty plea reflects the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to prosecuting those who endanger the nation by leaking sensitive information.”
On October 17, 2024, Rahman accessed and printed two Top Secret documents detailing a U.S. ally’s planned actions against a foreign adversary. He then photographed and shared the documents with unauthorized individuals. Within 24 hours, the classified information, complete with markings, appeared on social media platforms.
Rahman attempted to conceal his actions by destroying electronic devices, altering personal records, and discarding evidence. Over several months in 2024, he repeatedly removed classified documents from the CIA, altered them to mask their origins, and transmitted the information to unauthorized recipients.
U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber of the Eastern District of Virginia emphasized the risks caused by Rahman’s actions. “He placed lives in danger, undermined foreign relations, and compromised intelligence operations,” she said.
Rahman was arrested on November 12, 2024, and has remained in custody since. He pleaded guilty to two counts of willfully retaining and transmitting classified information. Sentencing is set for May 15, 2025, where he faces up to 10 years in prison for each count.
The FBI Washington Field Office led the investigation, and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy A. Edwards Jr. and Trial Attorney Brett Reynolds from the National Security Division.
