October 5, 2016
A National Security Agency contractor has been arrested, accused of taking top secret information, officials say.
Harold Thomas Martin III is charged with theft of government property and unauthorised removal of “highly classified” materials.
The 51-year-old had a top secret national security clearance and faces 10 years in prison.
Mr Martin’s lawyer said there was no evidence he had betrayed the US, a country he very much loved.
The Justice Department said he worked for Booz Allen Hamilton, the same contractor that employed NSA leaker Edward Snowden.
Six of the documents found in Mr Martin’s possession were classified as top secret, “meaning that unauthorized disclosure reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security of the US”, the Justice Department said.
According to a warrant, Mr Martin was arrested two days after his Glen Burnie, Maryland, home, garage and vehicle were searched on 27 August this year.
The FBI said Mr Martin at first denied taking the documents, but later admitted removing documents and digital files.