Former FBI agent Johnathan Buma, a 15-year counterintelligence veteran, was arrested at a New York airport for allegedly leaking classified documents, court records reveal. Buma, who previously accused the FBI of political bias during Donald Trump’s presidency, is charged with unlawfully disclosing internal files while working on a book about his career.
According to court filings, Buma printed around 130 internal FBI documents in 2023 and shared excerpts with associates. Some of this material, including sensitive information about an unnamed foreign country’s weapons of mass destruction program, appeared in a book draft he circulated. Additionally, screenshots of messages between Buma and a confidential source were later published in a news article.
Buma was arraigned in Brooklyn federal court and released on a $100,000 bond. The case has been transferred to California, where the charges were initially filed. It remains unclear whether he entered a plea. His public defender, who represented him at the arraignment, has not provided a statement, and no other legal counsel has been identified.
Buma has been vocal about his disapproval of how Trump’s administration handled classified information, particularly regarding alleged Russian influence operations. However, prosecutors argue that he was fully aware the documents he leaked were protected and unauthorized for distribution.
Trump has pledged to investigate Justice Department officials he believes unfairly targeted him, but Trump-appointed FBI Director Kash Patel assured lawmakers that bureau employees would be protected from political retaliation.
This case highlights ongoing tensions between law enforcement agencies and political figures, particularly regarding classified information leaks and allegations of bias.