The FBI has arrested a former Fort Bragg employee accused of leaking classified information to the media. The agency’s director, Kash Patel, confirmed the arrest on Wednesday. Courtney Williams, 40, was taken into custody on Tuesday and indicted on Wednesday by the US Department of Justice. Authorities said she shared sensitive material with a journalist, though the reporter’s name is not listed in the criminal complaint. Williams spoke with investigative journalist Seth Harp for his 2025 nonfiction book, The Fort Bragg Cartel. The book explored a series of deaths at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and alleged links between elite soldiers and drug trafficking. Williams worked at Fort Bragg for six years and handled sensitive documents. According to the FBI complaint, she managed materials like fake passports for undercover agents. She also responded to inquiries linked to the unit’s front companies, an August 2025 excerpt of Harp’s book said. Harp wrote that Williams faced workplace harassment, including an incident where she was allegedly asked to bend over so higher-ranking officers could check her pants for transparency. Williams filed grievances and a discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) over the treatment. In the criminal complaint filed on April 3 in the US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, authorities said the journalist’s article and book included classified national defense information. Williams had been briefed on her responsibility to protect classified data even after leaving employment. Patel posted on X, warning potential leakers: “Let this serve as a message to any would-be leakers: we’re working these cases, and we’re making arrests. This FBI will not tolerate those who seek to betray our country and put Americans in harm’s way.” Phone records cited in the complaint show communication between Williams and the journalist from 2022 onward. On August 12, the day Politico published Harp’s excerpt, Williams texted expressing concern about classified information being shared. She wrote, “I thought things I was telling you [were] so you could have a better general understanding.” She also noted that the portrayal of female employees felt unfair. “It just feels like the mark was missed. I’m taking deep breaths, but have a feeling this is going to be more of a nightmare for my children than not,” the complaint said. Harp criticized the FBI after news of the arrest. He argued that real crimes, including murders involving Fort Bragg soldiers and drug activity, remain unsolved. He said, “A real police agency would go after real criminals instead of engaging in this sort of penny-ante political theater.” The journalist also denied receiving a drive with classified information from Williams, referencing a complaint claim. He clarified the drive only contained a public EEOC complaint too large to email. Harp praised Williams, calling her a courageous whistleblower. He said she exposed gender discrimination and harassment in Delta Force. “Unlike many sources, she wanted to be quoted by name. Her actions were entirely above-board, legitimate, and admirable,” he added. The FBI has not commented further on the allegations. Federal authorities continue to investigate the case and the scope of classified information involved in the leak.