Maryland NSA Contractor Accused of Taking Classified Information
BALTIMORE, Md. (WJZ)-- An NSA contractor from Anne Arundel County is detained for the accusation of removing highly classified documents and storing them in his in his Glen Burnie home. Just three years after the Edward Snowden leaked top secret U.S. government documents from the same agency.
The allegations are making nationwide headlines. CBS News confirmed the man 51-year-old is Harold Thomas Martin III, accused of stealing six top secret documents and if released, could be detrimental to national security if exposed.
"It's definitely a shock, he didn't seem like that type of people," said one neighbor.
The investigation took off back on August 27, when authorities stormed Martin's property.
"FBI jackets all over the place, ,state troopers," said neighbor Glenn Bond.
According to the criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday, the FBI searched the house, car, and two storage sheds.
Investigators say they found hard copy documents and digital information stored on various devices and that Martin admitted to taking them.
Investigators say the documents found at Martin's home had markings on it, indicating that it was highly classified, top secret information and if made public, would cause grave damage to the national security of the United States.
Martin's wife had little to say outside the home Wednesday,"I have absolutely no comment on the matter, I am standing by my husband and I love him very much."
Martin, a navy veteran, worked with defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton, the same company that hired Edward Snowden.
In 2013, Snowden leaked classified secrets about U.S. surveillance methods and the latest breach could turn into yet another embarrassment for the U.S. intelligence community.
Martin has already appeared in court and is still being detained. Martin's lawyer says these are just allegations and there's no evidence that he intended to betray his country.
Martin has been charged with theft of government property and unauthorized removal of classified materials by a government contractor. He could face more than 10 years in prison total.
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