A civilian employee of the U.S. Air Force has pleaded guilty to conspiring to transmit classified national defense information on a foreign online dating platform. The individual, David Franklin Slater, was assigned to the U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg commented on the case, stating: “The defendant, an employee of the United States Air Force with access to some of our Nation’s most closely held secrets, shared classified information with someone claiming to be a foreigner on an online dating platform.” He added that the Department of Justice is prepared to hold accountable those who violate their obligation to protect sensitive national security information.
U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods for the District of Nebraska noted Slater’s failure in his duty: “Access to classified information comes with great responsibility. David Slater failed in his duty to protect this information by willingly sharing National Defense Information with an unknown online personality despite having years of military experience that should have caused him to be suspicious of that person’s motives.”
Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the FBI Omaha Field Office expressed concern over Slater’s actions: “Mr. Slater betrayed an oath he made to safeguard our nation’s intelligence… The FBI is extremely thankful for the work of our partners in this case.”
Court documents reveal that Slater, aged 64 and from Nebraska, had retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Army before working at USSTRATCOM with a Top Secret security clearance from August 2021 until April 2022. He admitted guilt in conspiring to transmit National Defense Information labeled as “SECRET” via a foreign online dating platform.
Slater attended briefings related to Russia’s war against Ukraine which were classified up to TOP SECRET//SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION (TS//SCI). He then transmitted this information through messages on the dating website, addressing his co-conspirator as her “secret informant love” and “secret agent.”
The conspiracy charge carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000. Sentencing is set for October 8.
The FBI Omaha Field Office and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations are leading investigations into this case.
Prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald J. Kleine for the District of Nebraska and Trial Attorney Emma Dinan Ellenrieder from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
