Texas soldier with top security clearance charged with attempting to pass sensitive tank data to Russia: DOJ
Share and Follow

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

A U.S. Army soldier in Texas with a top security clearance has been charged with handing over sensitive information about the military’s main battle tank in exchange for Russian citizenship.

Taylor Adam Lee, 22, was arrested Wednesday on charges of attempted transmission of national defense information to a foreign adversary and attempted export of controlled technical data without a license.

“This arrest is an alarming reminder of the serious threat facing our U.S. Army,” said Brigadier General Sean F. Stinchon, the commanding general of Army Counterintelligence Command.

The entrance to Fort Bliss and an M1A2 Abrams tank

The entrance to Fort Bliss and an M1A2 Abrams tank. A soldier at the base is charged with disclosing sensitive data of the battle tank to someone he believed to be working for the Russian government.  (Getty Images)

Several documents contained technical data that Lee wasn’t authorized to provide, prosecutors said. 

Other documents on the SD card were marked as Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and featured banner warnings and dissemination controls. During the meeting, Lee allegedly said that the information on the SD card was sensitive and likely classified.

Lee also discussed obtaining and providing a specific piece of hardware inside the M1A2 Abrams tank to the Russian government, authorities said. On July 31, he delivered what appeared to be the hardware to a storage unit in El Paso.

He then sent a message to the individual he believed to be a representative of the Russian government stating: “Mission accomplished.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Army.

“Today’s arrest is a message to anyone thinking about betraying the U.S. – especially service members who have sworn to protect our homeland,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “The FBI and our partners will do everything in our power to protect Americans and safeguard classified information.”

Lee’s arrest came on the same day that a soldier shot five other soldiers in Fort Stewart, Georgia. Sgt. Quornelius Radford, 28, shot five soldiers in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) area of the installation, authorities said. 

All the soldiers were treated on-site and then transported to Winn Army Community Hospital, according to Fort Stewart officials. Radford, who has been apprehended, serves as an automated logistics sergeant assigned to the ABCT.

Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner contributed to this report. 

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

DHS Announces New ‘Speedway Slammer’ Detention Facility Opening in Indiana

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it has signed another state…

JD Vance Criticizes CNN’s Coverage of Jeffrey Epstein Strategy Meeting as ‘Fake News’

Vice President JD Vance refuted claims on Wednesday about organizing a meeting…

Bold Strategy to Eliminate School Shootings Permanently… No Police Required

Drones are set to be deployed in schools to take out gunmen…

Trump to Spotlight Apple’s $100 Billion Boost in US Investment, Increasing Total to $600 Billion

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Wednesday is expected to celebrate at…

Grinning Putin Welcomes Trump Representative Steve Witkoff

Vladimir Putin has met with US special envoy Steve Witkoff as President Trump’s…

Authorities probe antisemitic attack involving arson, threatening graffiti in Midwest city: ‘Violent acts’

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Local and federal detectives…

China Intensifies Virus Control Measures Amidst Power Outages

Officials across China have implemented Covid-era preventive measures across the country as the chikungunya…

Collaborative Effort Injects $32M to Boost Security Measures at Wrigley Field Before 2027 MLB All-Star Game in Chicago’s Wrigleyville

CHICAGO (WLS) — It’s the second most visited tourist attraction in Chicago.…