Fort Bliss Soldier Charged With Trying to Pass Abrams Tank Data to Russia

A 22-year-old active-duty US Army soldier stationed at Fort Bliss in Texas was arrested Wednesday and charged with trying to send sensitive information about American battle tanks to Russia, the Justice Department announced.

Prosecutors identified the soldier as Taylor Adam Lee, who they say holds a top-secret clearance. According to the allegations, Lee offered help to Russia and posted technical information about the M1A2 Abrams tank online in June.

Prosecutors say Lee wrote online that "the USA is not happy with me for trying to expose their weaknesses." They also quote him as saying, "At this point I'd even volunteer to assist the Russian federation when I'm there in any way."

The Justice Department alleges that in July Lee, who holds top secret/sensitive compartmented information (TS/SCI) clearance, tried to give details about tank vulnerabilities to a person he believed was a Russian intelligence officer. Near the end of that month, prosecutors say, he delivered what appeared to be a piece of tank hardware to a storage unit in El Paso. He then allegedly messaged the individual: "Mission accomplished."

The material could have been broadly useful to Russia because the United States has supplied a version of the Abrams tank to Ukraine.

Lee faces a charge under the Espionage Act, which makes it a crime to mishandle national defense information. He is also charged with attempting to export controlled technical data without a license, a violation of the Arms Export Control Act. According to court documents, the government has asked that he be held without bond.

Lee made his first appearance in federal court Wednesday, the Justice Department said. It was not immediately clear whether he has retained an attorney. CNN has asked the Army for comment.

Roman Rozhavsky, assistant director of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division, said in a statement that Lee provided the information to the person he believed worked for Russian intelligence in exchange for Russian citizenship. "Today's arrest is a message to anyone thinking about betraying the U.S. – especially service members who have sworn to protect our homeland," he said.

Brig. Gen. Sean F. Stinchon, commanding general of Army Counterintelligence Command, called the arrest "an alarming reminder of the serious threat" facing the Army. He credited agents from his command and FBI partners, saying soldiers who violate their oath and become insider threats "will absolutely be caught and brought to justice."