director of the fbi Kashi Patel U.S. Army Special Operations veteran shares message with ‘potential leaker’ after arrest Courtney Williamswho faces federal charges for allegedly transmitting classified military tactics and procedures to journalist Seth Harp for his 2025 book on Fort Bragg. Williams was indicted on Wednesday, April 8, after allegedly providing confidential information to Harp.
In X post, Patel wrote: “FBI Our partners arrested a former Special Operations Command employee supporting our top military warriors for allegedly transmitting classified information to members of the media. Great work by @FBICharlotte and the FBI Counterintelligence & Espionage Division and our @TheJusticeDept partners. “
He added, “Let this send a message to any potential leakers: We are working these cases and we are making arrests. The FBI will not tolerate those who seek to betray our country and put Americans in danger.”
The complaint alleges that Williams signed a Confidential Information Nondisclosure Agreement when he was hired in 2010 and when he left in 2015, WRAL News reported. The criminal complaint details communications between Williams and reporters but does not name Harp. However, Harp wrote a book and an accompanying article that highlighted Williams throughout.
Williams spent at least 10 hours on the phone with Harper, the complaint said. Between 2022 and 2024, she exchanged approximately 180 text messages with him.
Learn more | Courtney Williams: 5 things to know about the veteran accused of leaking Delta Force secrets to reporter Seth Harp
A message from Harp discussed the data exchange: “Just wanted to let you know I dropped this in the mail today for a thumb drive. It’s stamped and addressed and can be sent back, no need to go to the post office!”
Williams reportedly saved files on her computer titled “Reporters Batch 1,” “Reporters Batch 2.” Williams plans to share at least 10 batches of documents with Harp, including personnel files from her time in the Special Military Units (SMU).
During a review of the article during the investigation, the complaint said it “determined that the article contained information that was properly classified as secret.”
It added that “the classified information includes, in part, the specific tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) used by this (SMU) to conduct sensitive missions.”
Learn more | Who is Seth Happ? Reporter on receiving Delta Force secrets from veteran Courtney Williams
Harp’s book, “The Fort Bragg Cartel: Drug Trafficking and Murder among Special Forces,” was published in August 2025. The book recounts Williams’ experiences with sexual harassment and discrimination during her eight years with Delta Force, an elite counterterrorism force based at Fort Bragg. It often operates in secret.
After Williams was terminated, he filed a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She later received a settlement, she told Harp, “enough to North Carolina“.
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