FBI Whistleblower Arrested on Serious Charges

FBI whistleblower Johnathan Buma, who alleged political bias in the agency, now faces charges of leaking classified information in a dramatic arrest at JFK Airport that raises questions about whistleblower protections and the handling of sensitive intelligence.

Quick Takes

FBI agent Johnathan Buma was arrested at JFK Airport while attempting to board an international flight on allegations of disclosing classified information in a draft memoir.
Buma, a 15-year FBI veteran who worked in counterintelligence, allegedly printed approximately 130 files from the FBI’s internal network, including information on a foreign country’s weapons of mass destruction program.
Prior to his arrest, Buma had filed a whistleblower complaint in January 2022 alleging “numerous acts of intelligence suppression” and retaliation against him.
The investigation into Buma began during the Biden administration, with his home raided in late 2023, though his attorney claimed no classified information was found.
Buma was released on $100,000 bail with his case to be handled in California federal court.

Arrest at JFK Airport Shocks FBI Veteran

FBI Special Agent Johnathan Buma’s career took a dramatic turn when federal authorities arrested him at New York’s JFK Airport as he attempted to board an international flight. The 15-year veteran of the bureau now faces serious allegations of disclosing classified information through a draft memoir he had been preparing. Prosecutors claim the book contained highly sensitive details about FBI investigations into a foreign country’s weapons of mass destruction program—information Buma allegedly obtained through his position as a counterintelligence agent with access to protected materials.

According to court documents, Buma printed approximately 130 files from the FBI’s internal network, including nine text-file documents marked as requiring protection. “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 (‘WMD’) program,” stated the affidavit filed Tuesday in federal court. The charges were filed in the Central District of California, though Buma made his initial court appearance in Brooklyn following his arrest.

Authorities say Johnathan Buma was arrested Monday at Kennedy Airport in New York as he was about to board a flight out of the country. https://t.co/TVKf6MQtWr

— WKTV (@WKTV) March 21, 2025

Whistleblower Claims and Political Allegations

Buma’s arrest comes after a series of whistleblower complaints he filed against the FBI. In January 2022, he submitted a formal complaint alleging intelligence suppression and claiming he faced retaliation for raising concerns. The complaint detailed what Buma described as troubling patterns in how the bureau handled politically sensitive cases.

Buma claimed in his 2022 complaint that the FBI took part in “numerous acts of intelligence suppression” regarding his reporting and retaliated against him. In a 2023 interview with Business Insider, Buma expressed frustration with what he perceived as political bias within the FBI. At one point, he reportedly told colleagues he was “at my wits’ end” regarding the bureau’s handling of politically sensitive investigations.

According to Buma, he went to his supervisor with information about possible criminal activities regarding Hunter Biden and Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company he was involved with, and his supervisor was allegedly eager to move the case forward. However, Buma alleges that when he provided information about former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, his supervisor quickly dismissed the case.

Legal Proceedings and Defense Response

Federal authorities conducted a raid on Buma’s home in late 2023 as part of the investigation into his handling of classified materials. Despite the FBI’s concerns, Buma’s former attorney, Scott Horton, vigorously denied any wrongdoing following the raid, stating that no classified information was found at Buma’s residence. After his arrest at JFK, Buma appeared before a federal judge in Brooklyn for a preliminary hearing and was subsequently released on $100,000 bail.

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 on the specific allegations. The case will ultimately be transferred to California federal court for further proceedings, where more details about the classified information allegedly disclosed may come to light.