In breaking news, a US Air Force veteran named Paul J. Freeman has been arrested and charged for allegedly disclosing classified information related to American military aircraft and weapons to unauthorized individuals, according to the Justice Department.
Court records reveal that Freeman was charged with unauthorized possession and transmission of classified national defense information by a grand jury in Florida on Tuesday. Prosecutors allege that Freeman transmitted information regarding the “vulnerabilities” of Air Force aircraft and weapon systems multiple times between November 2020 and March 2021.
The Justice Department stated in a news release, “If convicted, Freeman faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each of the nine counts in the indictment,” and noted that a detention hearing is scheduled for July 1.
The Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the FBI are currently conducting an investigation into the case. CNN has been unable to identify an attorney representing Freeman at this time, but has reached out to the Pentagon for comment.
This arrest comes as the Pentagon continues to address the issue of classified leaks following a previous incident involving a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. Last year, the Pentagon increased security screenings after a massive leak of classified documents by Jack Teixeira, who pleaded guilty to all six counts he faced under the Espionage Act earlier this year.
Despite Freeman’s alleged disclosures predating the implementation of increased security screenings, his arrest underscores the ongoing challenges the Pentagon faces in safeguarding sensitive and classified information. The Pentagon Force Protection Agency now conducts routine screenings of employees entering and exiting the Pentagon for classified information, with heightened measures put in place after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a review of procedures following Teixeira’s leak.
