Asif William Rahman, a former CIA analyst, has pleaded guilty to two charges related to the retention and transmission of classified national defense information. Rahman, 34, of Vienna, was employed by the CIA from 2016 and had access to highly sensitive documents. Between November 2024 and October 2025, he repeatedly accessed and printed top secret documents, including details about Israel’s military response to a potential strike from Iran. These documents were subsequently shared on social media, causing considerable embarrassment for the U.S. government, particularly due to the geopolitical sensitivity of the information.
Rahman’s actions involved altering the documents to conceal their origin before sharing them online. This breach of security also included sensitive intelligence regarding the U.S. surveillance on Israel, a close ally in the Middle East. The release of this information was damaging not only to U.S. security but also to relations with Israel. It revealed U.S. operations that were intended to remain covert, undermining the nation’s intelligence-gathering methods at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions.
In an effort to cover his tracks, Rahman took drastic measures to erase evidence of his actions.
He destroyed several of his personal devices, including a smartphone and an internet router, which were used to upload the classified materials. Additionally, he attempted to manipulate the narrative by creating journal entries that falsely explained his conduct and deleting online content that revealed his personal views on U.S. policies. Rahman’s efforts to hide his misconduct were extensive but ultimately unsuccessful.
Rahman was arrested by the FBI on November 12, 2024, shortly after he was indicted by a grand jury. Following his guilty plea, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for his crimes. His case highlights significant security vulnerabilities and the risks posed by individuals with access to sensitive government information. The breach underscores the critical need for stringent controls over classified data and the consequences of its unauthorized disclosure.
