U.S. accuses former Air Force intelligence specialist of spying for Iran

The U.S. is charging one of its own former Air Force intelligence specialists with espionage, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

Monica Witt, 39, who was born and raised in Texas and was in the Air Force from 1997 until 2008, defected to Iran in 2013. The indictment states that during her tenure in the Air Force, Witt had access to "top secret national defense information." She also handled classified projects as a government contractor in her post-Air Force career from 2008 to 2010.

Among the specific charges, Witt is accused of revealing the code name and mission of a highly classified Defense Department Special Access Program. She is also accused of aiding Iranian intelligence with hacking and identity theft efforts, which targeted her U.S. military colleagues.

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Jay Tabb, the FBI's executive director for national security, said that Witt "is known to have appeared on Iranian media outlets" and "made statements critical of the U.S. government" before she defected. In 2012, the FBI warned her that the Iranian government could recruit her, to which she replied that she would refuse to hand over any information she acquired through her military work.

The indictment also charged four Iranians with conspiracy, computer intrusions, and identity theft. All five individuals are believed to still be in Iran. Read the full indictment at NPR.