An FBI agent who said that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani “may have been compromised” by Russian agents and accused the first Trump administration of political bias was detained at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport before he could leave the nation.
In the criminal complaint submitted on Tuesday, Jonathan Buma was accused of unlawfully revealing private information.
In October 2023, Buma, a counterintelligence expert and 15-year FBI veteran who had criticized the first Trump administration’s handling of classified material, allegedly printed out almost 130 files from FBI networks.
At least eight of the files Buma allegedly printed out contained “sensitive information reports relating to a foreign adversary,” and some files contained information that confidential human sources provided to the FBI, which “were clearly marked with protected warnings that made clear that the information was to be protected,” said the complaint.
Additionally, Buma allegedly printed out screenshots of messages he sent and received with a confidential source using an encrypted messaging app; the complaint claimed that the images, which contained information, somehow made their way into a news story later that year.
Buma allegedly informed his supervisors that he intended to take an unpaid leave of absence after printing the necessary materials for his candid autobiographical book.
During his unpaid sabbatical, it seems that Buma was not discreet about the planned contents of his book. He circulated a draft via email and shared excerpts on social media, allegedly revealing information about the bureau’s investigations into a foreign nation’s weapons of mass destruction program.
“The book draft contained information that Buma obtained through his position as an FBI Special Agent that relates to the FBI’s efforts and investigations into a foreign country’s weapons of mass destruction program,” said the complaint.
Additionally, Buma allegedly printed out screenshots of messages he sent and received with a confidential source using an encrypted messaging app; the complaint claimed that the images, which contained information, somehow made their way into a news story later that year.
Buma allegedly informed his supervisors that he intended to take an unpaid leave of absence after printing the necessary materials for his candid autobiographical book. During his unpaid sabbatical, it seems that Buma was not discreet about the planned contents of his book.
He circulated a draft via email and shared excerpts on social media, allegedly revealing information about the bureau’s investigations into a foreign nation’s weapons of mass destruction program.
“In Buma’s case, the Bureau’s conduct raises special concerns that counterintelligence activities targeting the Russian intelligence services are being blocked when they produce evidence that the Bureau considers politically embarrassing,” said attorney Scott Horton.
Buma was arraigned Tuesday in a federal court in Brooklyn, but the charges were filed in California, according to reports. After posting a $100,000 bond, he was freed.
As of Wednesday evening, according to ABC News, Buma had not pled guilty and his lawyer had not replied to a request for comment.
The FBI has been busy this week.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino has announced that the bureau is investigating attacks targeting Tesla vehicles and dealerships of the electric vehicle company and related swatting incidents.
President Trump and other administration officials have condemned a number of these incidents as acts of “domestic terrorism” due to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s involvement in DOGE-driven cuts to federal agencies and employees, Axios reported.
“Communication and transparency are my priorities. We work for you, the American citizen. Our teams are actively working on the Tesla incidents and the swatting incidents, along with our other responsibilities to keep the Homeland safe. Thank you,” Bongino wrote.
Swatting is a type of harassment in which a fictitious emergency services call is made to send a large number of armed police officers to a specific address.
The targeting of a Tesla collision center in Las Vegas on Tuesday, which resulted in multiple vehicles being set on fire and the word “Resist” being spray-painted on the building, is being looked into by the FBI as a possible act of terrorism.
