A gun enthusiast with troubling views, including racist tendencies and a distrust of government, would be the focal point of a profile tied to the alleged leak of dozens of classified Pentagon documents. A Washington Post investigation identified the suspect as someone who had been employed at a military installation. The resulting exposure of U.S. intelligence secrets has raised questions about how such material circulated and who stood to gain from its disclosure, including debates over Ukrainian strategy in the spring and tensions among allies over arming Kiev or monitoring neighboring partners like Israel, South Korea, or Ukraine itself. An earthquake with wide-reaching consequences hangs over the story, underscoring the fragility of the security system.
The Washington Post spoke with a member of the group, a private dispute forum—an online space initially popular with video game enthusiasts—where the alleged leaker began to reveal sensitive information that the government would have preferred stayed hidden. The forum started at the pandemic’s onset with around twenty members, mostly male and some underage, united by interests in weapons, military gear, and faith. One participant described his presence there as a search for identity. The user known as “OG” started sharing state secrets last year, beginning with intelligence transcripts and later including photographs as well.
military base worker
At one point he claimed employment with a company serving a military facility where access to phones and other electronic devices is tightly restricted to prevent copying of confidential material stored on government servers.
Yet, as recent events have shown, such measures are not foolproof. The bigger issue is a rising tide of credentials that grant access to classified information. The latest data from the National Intelligence Directorate indicate that 1.2 million government personnel and contractors had access to sensitive documents in 2019. It mirrors previous incidents where insiders revealed secrets, echoing the cases of Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning who exposed significant secrets tied to U.S. intelligence and diplomacy.
Racist and anti-Semitic allegations
According to sources cited by the Washington Post, the leaker was perceived as capable and deliberate in his actions. A forum member stated, “This was not an accidental leak”, highlighting that the government was a focal point in conversations about security and governance. Reporters noted discussions about the security apparatus often being seen as oppressive and expressed disappointment with perceived government extremism.
One video available to the newspaper shows the alleged leaker firing a rifle at a shooting range while making explicit racist remarks. The Washington Post described the person as making antisemitic statements during the session, punctuating the confession with loud remarks that reflected the aggression of the moment.
Although those close to the case claim to know the leaker’s real name, his identity has not been publicly disclosed. Federal investigators are deep into the Pentagon leak case, with the scope appearing larger than initially expected. The Washington Post reports that as many as 300 photos of confidential documents have emerged, a figure surpassing earlier estimates and suggesting extensive material was exposed.