News of the Cyber World

[kyonides]

Former US Soldier Arrested for Trying to Give China
Access to Military Computer Systems

A former U.S. soldier has been arrested for attempting to deliver classified defense information to China’s ruling communist regime, the State Department has said.

Joseph Schmidt served in the U.S. Army. He attained the rank of sergeant, but was not enlisted at the time of his arrest on Oct. 6.

Mr. Schmidt is charged with two felonies related to alleged attempts to deliver national defense information to communist China and illegal retention of national defense information after his time in service.

He is scheduled to appear in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on Friday and will be brought to the Western District of Washington for further court proceedings after that.

“Individuals entrusted with national defense information have a continuing duty to protect that information beyond their government service and certainly beyond our borders,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew Olsen in a prepared statement.

“The National Security Division is committed to identifying and holding accountable those who violate that duty.”