JUST IN: Judge denies release to anti-Trump DIA IT worker accused of sending top secret info to what he thought was a friendly foreign govt but was actually FBI. Feds say Nathan Laatsch also admitted reaching out to a 2nd govt. Earlier:
politico.com/news/2025/05/2…
politico.com/news/2025/05/2…
"He was hell-bent on providing information to a foreign government that aligned with his values," DOJ prosecutor Christina Clark said.
Clark said Laatsch admitted he also reached out to a 2nd foreign govt through a "portal" that left few traces. US Magistrate Judge William Porter said Laatsch "expressed a desire to to harm to the [US] government based on his dissatisfaction with the current administration."
Federal defender Lauren Rosen noted that FBI left Laatsch on the streets for weeks while the investigation unfolded, undermining the notion of danger. She also noted that Congress actually hasn't created a presumption of detention for espionage charge Laatsch faces
Rosen said Laatsch could live in Florida with his parents, who were in court just in front of me, with limits on web access. But Clark said Laatsch, an IT expert, could easily get around those. Porter sided with govt: "The risk is too great."
Laatsch was indicted by a grand jury yesterday and is set to be formally arraigned next week in Alexandria federal court. ENDS.documentcloud.org/documents/2596…
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