A CIA contractor accused of leaking classified intelligence to his journalist girlfriend could face up to 10 years in prison. The reports allegedly shared with her appeared to draw limited attention on her Substack, with one receiving just 165 likes.
Ian Brinksman, 42, allegedly misused his access to sensitive US intelligence by obtaining reports outside the scope of his duties, including classified information concerning Israel, prosecutors said. Investigators claim he obtained the material to pass it to his romantic partner and help advance her journalism career.
Although officials did not identify the woman, the intelligence described in court documents and the relevant publication dates correspond to at least five reports posted on journalist Aida Chávez’s Substack, which cites classified CIA sources.
Prosecutors pointed to a Nov. 20, 2025, email in which Brinksman told a friend he wanted to help his girlfriend establish herself professionally before he gained access to the classified reports.
“So yeah, I’m still laying low and trying to figure out what’s next (once the dust finally settles.) The lady I’ve been seeing is a journalist and recently went independent. So I’ve been helping her get that off the ground,” Brinksman wrote.
“Her venture focuses on foreign policy. So, I’m getting a surprising amount enrichment/fulfilment from working on that,” he added.
Chávez has since made her social media accounts private. She had previously shared photos with left-wing commentator Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur, the founder of The Young Turks.
Prosecutors said Brinksman held top-secret security clearance while working as an employee of a US government agency and later as a systems developer for a private contractor serving that same agency.
The Justice Department said Brinksman was working for a CIA contractor when he was arrested.
During that period, Brinksman allegedly provided the information to Chávez, who previously worked at The Hill and contributed to The Washington Post before launching her Substack, Capital & Empire.
Chávez has not been charged in the case and has not publicly addressed the allegations against Brinksman. She did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
Investigators identified at least five articles on her website that corresponded with the intelligence and dates detailed in an FBI affidavit. One of the reports focused on internal political tensions in Israel.
The article, co-published with Drop Site News on Oct. 5, described a classified CIA report warning of a possible civil war and the collapse of the Jewish state amid conflicts involving Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.
Despite the report’s serious claims and its references to CIA sources, the Substack post received 165 likes and 46 reposts.
Another article described private discussions between Israel and the United States over Jerusalem’s reported push for the Trump administration to target Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s lead negotiator. Major publications later confirmed the story.
Investigators found more than 800 phone calls between the pair in 2026. In some instances, Brinksman allegedly contacted Chávez just minutes after accessing classified information.
Brinksman has been charged with unlawfully transmitting national defense information, a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
