Disillusioned defense intelligence analyst waives speedy trial in espionage case

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (CN) — A U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency analyst who hid top secret documents in his socks after becoming disillusioned with the Trump administration waived his right to a speedy trial Wednesday in a felony espionage case.

Nathan Vilas Laatsch of Alexandria declined to speak at a hearing regarding charges of attempting to transmit national defense information. A written brief filed later shows a plea of not guilty.

The former DIA analyst once worked in its Insider Threat Division, where he had access to multiple classified databases. Laatsch, who graduated with a cybersecurity degree from Florida Polytechnic University in 2018, held a top secret security clearance at the time of the alleged offense. Now 28, he faces severe consequences—up to life in prison or even the death penalty—if the charges are upheld.

At Wednesday’s hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr., a Trump appointee, said he would write an order calling for the expedited security clearance for one of Laatsch’s attorneys, who currently lacks approval to review classified documents.

The FBI launched an investigation after receiving an email in which Laatsch offered to provide classified information to a friendly foreign government, identified in court filings as “Country 1.”

Under a subject line that read: “Outreach from USA Defense Intelligence Agency Officer,” the sender wrote of his willingness to supply classified information, according to an affidavit by FBI agent Matthew T. Johnson.

“I am an officer of the Defense Intelligence Agency serving in a technical role in support of our internal Office of Security (SEC). The recent actions of the current administration are extremely disturbing to me," the email read. “I do not agree or align with the values of this administration and intend to act to support the values that the United States at one time stood for. To this end, I am willing to share classified information that I have access to, which are completed intelligence products, some unprocessed intelligence, and other assorted classified documentation.”

The sender attempted to verify his position by including pictures of government identification badges used to gain workplace entry. These “appear to be badges commonly possessed by employees in the U.S. government and/or the U.S. intelligence community,”  the FBI agent wrote. The agency was able to determine that the ID belonged to Laatsch.

As the investigation progressed, the FBI agent, posing as a foreign government official, arranged dead drops at a public park in suburban North Virginia. When asked for a sample of information, Laatsch responded that he would do so.

The day after, Laatsch began reviewing and accessing classified information “approximately twenty minutes after entering his office,” the FBI affidavit recounted. During the workday, he took notes while looking at a classified computer system. He folded the notes into squares and put them in his socks. He also transported notes in the bottom compartment of his lunchbox.

In return for supplying information, Laatsch wanted citizenship from the country. He also wrote that he was “not opposed to other compensation” but was not in a position where he needed to seek “material compensation,” according to the FBI affidavit.

The FBI subsequently confirmed that eight of the nine documents contained on a thumb drive supplied by Laatsch were properly classified as top secret and contained sensitive compartmented information.

One of the documents allegedly involved detailed sensitive intelligence, including classified methods of collection, assessments of foreign military exercises and analysis of their potential impact.