FBI Whistleblower Accused of Unlawfully Revealing Classified Information

An FBI agent who spoke out against alleged political bias within the Bureau has been arrested at JFK Airport, charged with disclosing classified information related to a foreign weapons program.

Key Takeaways

Johnathan Buma, a 15-year FBI veteran, was arrested last week at JFK Airport while attempting to board an international flight.
Buma is accused of disclosing classified information in a draft memoir about a foreign country’s weapons of mass destruction program.
Prior to his arrest, Buma had filed whistleblower complaints alleging political bias in FBI handling of Hunter Biden and Rudy Giuliani cases.
Authorities claim Buma printed approximately 130 files from the FBI’s internal network, some marked “Protected.”
Released on $100,000 bail, Buma’s case will be handled in California federal court.

Arrest of a Whistleblower

Johnathan Buma, an FBI counterintelligence agent with 15 years of service, was apprehended at JFK Airport last week while attempting to board an international flight. Federal authorities charged Buma with disclosing classified information through a draft memoir that allegedly contained sensitive details about FBI investigations into a foreign country’s weapons of mass destruction program.

Buma is known for previously being vocal about what he described as political bias within the FBI, particularly regarding high-profile cases involving Hunter Biden and Rudy Giuliani.

According to court documents, Buma printed approximately 130 files from the FBI’s internal network, with several documents marked in ways indicating the information required protection. The investigation into Buma’s handling of classified information began during the Biden administration, with FBI agents reportedly conducting a raid on his residence in late 2023. Despite these serious allegations, Buma’s former attorney rejected any allegations of wrongdoing in connection with the classified materials.

Whistleblower Complaints and Allegations

In January 2022, Buma filed a whistleblower complaint with the Department of Justice, alleging intelligence suppression and retaliation within the FBI. Buma had previously provided information on possible criminal activities involving Hunter Biden and Ukrainian energy company Burisma. However, he alleged that when he brought up concerns that Rudy Giuliani might have been compromised by a Russian operation, his superior dismissed the issue.

In a previous statement to Congress back in 2023, Buma described himself as being “at my wits’ end” regarding what he perceived as improper handling of investigations. These complaints align with his subsequent decision to document his experiences in a memoir, which now forms the basis of the criminal case against him.

Legal Proceedings and Defense

Following his arrest, Buma appeared in Brooklyn federal court for a preliminary hearing. He was released on $100,000 bail, with his case set to be transferred to the Central District of California for further proceedings. Court records indicate that Buma has not yet entered a plea in response to the charges, and his current attorney has not issued public comments regarding the specific allegations of classified information disclosure.

When federal agents previously raided Buma’s home on suspicion of mishandling classified information, his then-attorney Scott Horton denied any wrongdoing and claimed no classified material was found during the search. This contradicts the current charges, which specifically allege that Buma’s draft memoir contained protected information related to sensitive foreign weapons investigations. The discrepancy between these accounts could be a central focus as the legal proceedings advance.