FBI Agent Kendra Kingsbury Indicted - improperly storing materials that describe FBI sources and methods at her home...it’s bad - read the indictment
Kingsbury improperly removed sensitive government materials – including national defense information and classified documents – from June 2004 to Dec. 15, 2017.
Kendra Kingsbury - charged in a two-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, May 18. That indictment was unsealed and made public today upon Kingsbury’s arrest and initial court appearance in the District of Kansas.
The recently unsealed federal indictment alleges, Defendant Kingsbury improperly removed sensitive government materials – including national defense information and classified documents – from June 2004 to Dec. 15, 2017. Defendant Kingsbury allegedly retained these materials in her home.
Kingsbury worked as an intelligence analyst for more than 12 years in the Kansas City Division of the FBI. In December of 2017 she was placed on suspension. In her 12 year career Kingsbury was assigned to different FBI squads
focused on illegal drug trafficking
violent crime,
violent gangs, and
counterintelligence.
Kingsbury held a top secret security clearance, had access to national defense and classified information. She also received extensive training on the proper handling of “Classified Documents”
As alleged in the newly unsealed indictment:
June 2004, up to and including on or about December 15, 2017, KENDRA KINGSBURY, the defendant, was employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Kansas City Division, in the position of Intelligence Analyst
DOJ-OPA - Page 1 of Kingsbury Indictment
In connection with her FBI employment, and in furtherance of her duties as an Intelligence Analyst, the defendant held a TOP SECRET//SCI security clearance and had access to national defense and classified information.
As further alleged in the Indictment
The defendant knew that unauthorized removal of classified materials and transportation and storage of those materials in unauthorized locations risked disclosure and transmission of those materials, and therefore could endanger the national security of the United States and the safety of its citizens.
DOJ-OPA - Page 4 of Kingsbury Indictment
The defendant had access to these sensitive government materials at a secure area of the FBI’s Kansas City Division and otherwise through secure government computer systems and programs…defendant improperly removed and unlawfully and willfully retained, in her personal residence, sensitive government materials, including National Defense Information and classified documents. The defendant was not authorized to remove and retain these sensitive government materials, including the National Defense Information and classified documents.
Count One:
JESUS. CHRIST. …read what I highlighted and underlined closely because this is bad and it’s almost hard to comprehend why the Defendant would shatter the public trust granted to her…and put our collective National Security at risk.
Numerous documents classified at the SECRET level from the FBI that describe intelligence sources and methods related to U.S. government efforts to defend against counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and cyber threats.
…documents include details on the FBI’s nationwide objectives and priorities, including specific open investigations across multiple field offices…. documents relating to sensitive human source operations in national security investigations, intelligence gaps regarding hostile foreign intelligence services and terrorist organizations, and the technical capabilities of the FBI against counterintelligence and counterterrorism targets.
Count Two:
This is pretty astonishing- particularly the content of the documents. Al Qaeda, the continent of Africa, Usama bin Laden associate, and emerging threats.
SECRET level from the OGA that describe intelligence sources and methods related to U.S. government efforts to collect intelligence on terrorist groups..
Page 6 of Kingsbury Indictment
…documents include information about al Qaeda members on the African continent, including a suspected associate of Usama bin Laden. In addition, there are documents regarding the activities of emerging terrorists and their efforts to establish themselves in support of al Qaeda in Africa.
There’s not a whole lot on her docket
It is also difficult to wrap your head around the fact the FBI investigated one of their own but it’s kind of summed up by the Special Agent in Charge statement;
“Every FBI employee swears to support and defend the Constitution of the United States…With that oath comes the obligation to protect classified information from unauthorized disclosure to safeguard our national security. Kingsbury’s actions are a betrayal of trust not only to the FBI but also the American people. They can be reassured that the FBI takes any and all allegations of wrongdoing by employees with the utmost gravity and remain committed to investigating these allegations to the fullest extent.” said Special Agent in Charge Timothy Langan of the FBI Kansas City Field Office.
For some reason this disclosure in the newly unsealed indictment is truly disturbing
“…documents relating to sensitive human source operations in national security investigations, intelligence gaps regarding hostile foreign intelligence services and terrorist organizations, and the technical capabilities of the FBI against counterintelligence and counterterrorism targets…”
Just appalling. And what has she been doing with those documents since 2017? One shudders at the thought.
Things that make you go - hmmm... Who, what, when, where and for Christ's sake, why????