Guilty Plea for Ex-CIA Official in Leak of Top Secret Documents
A former U.S. CIA analyst, Asif William Rahman, pleaded guilty on Jan. 17, 2025, to illegally keeping and sharing Top Secret national defense information with people who were not authorized to see it. Rahman, 34, worked for the CIA since 2016 and had access to highly classified materials. According to court records, he shared sensitive information that included details about U.S. foreign allies and their planned actions against adversaries, as reported by the United States Attorney's Office.
The Crime and Attempted Cover-Up
Rahman allegedly accessed and printed classified documents in October 2024, took photos of them, and sent them to people he knew weren't authorized to see them. The documents concerned Israel's plans to retaliate against Iran last year, and Rahman's actions caused the attack to be delayed. Rahman admitted to violating the Espionage Act by leaking the records. Rahman tried to cover up his actions by deleting files and destroying devices that he used to transmit the information, according to the United States Attorney's Office news release. Rahman was arrested by the FBI in November 2024 after a grand jury indicted him. He pleaded guilty to two counts of illegally keeping and sharing classified information.
'Betrayed the American People'
In the release, Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, stated, "Asif Rahman is pleading guilty in federal court three months to the day that he disclosed top secret American documents in violation of his oath, his responsibility, and the law. This District, in partnership with federal law enforcement and the intelligence community, exemplified dedication, skill, and speed to bring him to justice expeditiously. Mr. Rahman's actions placed lives at risk, undermined U.S. foreign relations, and compromised our ability to collect vital intelligence in the future."
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen added, "Mr. Rahman betrayed the trust of the American people by unlawfully sharing classified national defense information he swore an oath to protect. Today's guilty plea demonstrates that the Justice Department will spare no effort to swiftly find and aggressively prosecute those who harm the United States by illegally disclosing our national security secrets."
Past Offenses
Before revealing Israel's plans, Rahman had allegedly shared sensitive information several times. In the spring of 2024, while working as a CIA analyst in Virginia, he allegedly gave away five secret and top-secret documents. He made copies of them and passed them to people who weren't allowed to see them. Then, in the fall of 2024, he allegedly leaked another 10 classified documents, not counting the two about Israel's planned attack. Each time, Rahman deleted his activities from his devices, then went back to his workstation where he shredded the classified documents, according to court records and reported by the United States Attorney's Office.
Sentencing
Rahman could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison on May 15, based on the plea agreement. However, he's likely to serve much less time, as sentencing guidelines suggest he should get between five and six-and-a-half years.
Rahman's guilty plea to espionage charges marks a serious consequence for his actions. By sharing classified information, he put national security at risk and betrayed the trust placed in him by the U.S. government. As he awaits his sentencing, his case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting sensitive information and the severe penalties for those who violate that responsibility.
References: Ex-CIA official pleads guilty to leaking top-secret docs about Israel's plans to strike Iran | Former CIA analyst pleads guilty to transmitting Top Secret National Defense Information
