A U.S. Air Force civilian employee has been accused of passing classified information about Russia’s war with Ukraine to his Ukrainian girlfriend, a woman he met on a foreign online dating platform.
David Franklin Slater, 63, who authorities say retired as an Army lieutenant colonel and was assigned to U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, was arrested Saturday on charges of unlawfully disclosing national defense information and conspiracy.
Federal prosecutors in Nebraska say Slater had a top-secret security clearance from August 2021 to April 2022 and attended briefings between February and April 2022 about Russia’s war with Ukraine, the Justice Department he said Monday.
Despite signing documents pledging not to reveal classified information, he allegedly intentionally and inappropriately shared details about Russian military targets and capabilities on an online messaging dating platform with an unindicted accomplice who claimed to be a woman living in Ukraine. .
The co-conspirator was referred to as Slater’s “secret informant love” and described as his “secret agent.”
A U.S. Air Force civilian employee working at Offutt Air Force Base was arrested March 2 for alleged conspiracy to transmit classified national defense information. Pictured is the new U.S. Strategic Command command and control facility located at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska.
Court documents show that she took a keen interest in how the war was progressing and what future plans might be.
At least nine messages were identified by the authorities where the woman asks for specific details about the military operation.
‘The American secret services say that 100% of Russian troops are already on the territory of Ukraine. Do you think this information can be trusted? the woman asks on March 7.
Four days later, she is seen asking details about the data displayed in one of the offices.
‘Dear, what is shown on the screens in the special room? It’s very interesting,” she writes.
‘By the way, you were the first to tell me that NATO members travel by train and only now (in the afternoon) we announced it in our news. You are my secret informant love! How were your meetings? Successfully?’ confirms the woman.
A week later, the woman, supposedly in Ukraine, writes: “Dear Dave, do NATO and Biden have a secret plan to help us?”
David Franklin Slater, 63, had a Top Secret security clearance and is accused of intentionally and unlawfully sharing ‘SECRET’ NDI on a foreign dating site. Pictured is a guard station for the Global Operations Center inside the new U.S. Strategic Command Command and Control Facility located at Offutt Air Force Base.
He later congratulates Dave for providing such detailed intelligence.
‘Dave, it’s great that you get information about (Specified Country 1) first. I hope you tell me right away. You are my secret agent. With love.’
The following month, on April 12, the messages still focus on the war effort.
“Sweet Dave, the weapons supply is completely classified, which is fantastic!” the woman writes.
“My sweet Dave, thank you for the valuable information. It’s great to have two US officials going to kyiv.” she writes days later.
The woman regularly requested confidential, private, classified and classified information from NDI, which had been labeled “SECRET.”
‘Dave, I hope that tomorrow NATO prepares a very unpleasant ‘surprise’ for Putin. Would you tell me?’ she asks to find out later in April.
Finally, before they closed her access, the woman sent her a message: “You have work in the Operations Center today, I remember. I’m sure there is a lot of interesting news there.”
Slater is due to make his first court appearance Tuesday in the District of Nebraska.
According to the indictment, that alleged co-conspirator, who is not identified by prosecutors, repeatedly asked Slater for information and described him as “my secret informant love.”
Slater allegedly provided classified information, including details about military targets and Russian military capabilities related to the invasion of Ukraine.
Deputy Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division emphasized the seriousness of the allegations.
‘Mister. Slater, an Air Force civilian employee and retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, knowingly transmitted classified national defense information to another person with blatant disregard for the security of his country and his oath to safeguard its secrets.
The Department of Justice stated that it is committed to holding individuals accountable for intentionally disclosing classified information that endangers national security.
U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr for the District of Nebraska similarly highlighted the severity of the responsibilities associated with access to top secret information.
Slater allegedly provided classified information, including details about military targets and Russian military capabilities related to the invasion of Ukraine. The woman he was supposedly chatting with even commented on the screens that were visible.
‘Certain responsibilities fall on people with access to top secret information. The allegations against Mr. Slater call into question whether he betrayed those responsibilities.
Lehr also expressed his commitment to working with investigative agencies to ensure the country’s security.
The FBI Omaha Field Office, along with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, are actively investigating the case.
Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the FBI’s Omaha Field Office underscored the FBI’s dedication to investigating individuals who misuse their access to classified information, emphasizing that such actions pose a risk to national security.
“When people violate the trust given to them to safeguard our nation’s intelligence, they put our country at risk,” Kowel said.
Slater is due to make his first court appearance on Tuesday. in the District of Nebraska.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count related to conspiracy to transmit and transmitting national defense information.