In today’s hyper-polarized America, we’ve grown accustomed to people taking their political grievances to social media, protest marches, or maybe a heated Thanksgiving dinner. But selling out your country? That’s taking “resistance” to a whole new level of crazy.

Some people just can’t seem to accept election results. While most Americans have moved on with their lives under President Trump’s second term, others have apparently decided that if they can’t beat him at the ballot box, they’ll try more… creative approaches. Like, say, handing classified intelligence to foreign governments.

The Spy Who Bugged Me

Meet Nathan Vilas Laatsch, a 28-year-old IT specialist who worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) since 2019. Last Thursday, this Virginia resident was arrested after attempting to share classified national defense information with what he believed was a foreign government official. Plot twist: it was actually an undercover FBI agent.

According to the Department of Justice, Laatsch held a top secret security clearance and worked in the DIA’s Insider Threat Division. Yes, you read that correctly – the man whose job was to identify potential insider threats became one himself. If that’s not a resume-killer, I don’t know what is.

From ‘Fox News’:

An email to the FBI said that the person – later identified as Laatsch – didn’t “agree or align with the values” of the Trump administration, and would be willing to share classified information that he could access, including “completed intelligence products, some unprocessed intelligence, and other assorted classified documentation.”

The case began unfolding in March when the FBI received a tip that someone was offering to provide classified information to a “friendly foreign government.” The identity of this “friendly” nation hasn’t been disclosed, but whoever they are, they dodged a bullet by not getting entangled in Laatsch’s amateur espionage adventure.

From Protector to Perpetrator

The details of this case read like a rejected spy novel manuscript. Laatsch repeatedly transcribed classified information at his desk, smuggled the notes out by hiding them in his clothing, and arranged clandestine drop-offs at public parks in Northern Virginia.

On May 1, FBI surveillance caught Laatsch depositing a thumb drive at a pre-arranged location. When agents retrieved it, they found several documents marked “Secret” or “Top Secret,” along with a message from Laatsch indicating he was sharing “a decent sample size” of classified information to demonstrate the types of things he had access to. It was essentially a classified information tasting menu – spy craft’s version of appetizers before the main course.

After confirming the thumb drive had been received, Laatsch messaged the undercover agent on May 7, hinting that he expected something in return for his betrayal. The following day, he specified his price: “citizenship for your country” because he didn’t “expect things here to improve in the long term” under the Trump administration. One has to wonder – is living in a democracy with a president you dislike really worse than committing treason?

Citizenship for Sale, America for Trade

Between May 15 and May 27, Laatsch continued his espionage efforts, transcribing more classified notes and smuggling them out of his workplace. On May 29, he arrived at another prearranged location to make his final drop-off, where the FBI promptly arrested him.

“This case underscores the persistent risk of insider threats,” said FBI Director Kash Patel in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). “The FBI remains steadfast in protecting our national security and thanks our law enforcement partners for their critical support.”

The irony here is thicker than a classified intelligence briefing. A government employee whose literal job was to prevent insider threats decided to become one himself – all because he couldn’t stand the Trump administration. It’s worth noting that Laatsch began working at the DIA in 2019, during Trump’s first term, continued through the Biden administration, and then apparently couldn’t handle Trump’s return to office in 2025. This case lends credence to concerns about “deep state” resistance within government agencies – Laatsch wasn’t just complaining at the water cooler; he was actively trying to undermine national security.

According to a March CNN report cited by Newsweek, foreign countries including Russia and China have been increasingly looking to recruit disgruntled U.S. federal employees working in national security, particularly as the Trump administration conducts mass layoffs across the federal workforce. Laatsch appears to have volunteered his services without needing much recruitment.

Laatsch made his first court appearance in the Eastern District of Virginia on Friday, May 30. If convicted, he faces serious prison time – which, one assumes, would be even less pleasant for him than living in Trump’s America.

Key Takeaways:

• A government employee tasked with stopping insider threats became one himself after deciding he couldn’t accept President Trump’s leadership.
• The FBI successfully caught Laatsch red-handed, preventing classified information from reaching foreign governments.
• This case exposes how Trump Derangement Syndrome poses real national security risks within government agencies.

Sources: Fox News, Newsweek, DC News Now