A former army solider was indicted for trying to give information to Chinese authorities on U.S. national security. The soldier was arrested as soon as he arrived in San Francisco on a flight from Hong Kong.
The two charges include “attempt to deliver national defense information” and “retention of national defense information”. Joseph Daniel Schmidt is going to be brought in for questioning at the U.S. District Court in California.
Assistant Attorney General for National Defense, Matthew G. Olson, said “Individuals entrusted with national defense information have a continuing duty to protect that information beyond their government service and certainly beyond our borders.”
Schmidt had access to secret and top secret documents due to his role in the intelligence battalion. He began his travels in 2020 it is stated that he was already delivering information to the Chinese intelligence officials.
He is currently being investigated further by the FBI with assistance from U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command.
Former Soldier Indicted for Attempting to Pass National Defense Information to People’s Republic of China
Defendant Arrested Upon Arrival in San Francisco on Flight from Hong Konghttps://t.co/aALBMQut5S
— National Security Division, U.S. Dept of Justice (@DOJNatSec) October 6, 2023
