A former US Air Force agent, who caused a row after allegedly defecting to Iran in 2013, is back in the news after the FBI on Thursday offered a $200,000 reward for information leading to her capture.
Regarding why the agency has once again issued a lookout for Witt after so many years, the agency said that the capture could be useful at a “critical moment in Iran’s history.”
“The FBI wants to hear from you so you can help us apprehend Witt and bring her to justice,” Daniel Wierzbicki, special agent in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Counterintelligence and Cyber Division, said in a statement confirming a $200,000 reward.
CNN, in its report on Thursday’s notice, recalls that Witt’s case first reached the US courts between January 2012 and May 2015 when prosecutors alleged that she leaked ” “documents and information relating to the national defense of the United States.”
Since then, the authorities in the US have not been able to capture Monica Witt.
In this article, we will look at the elusive story of Monica Witt in 5 key points.
Also read: What the Iran conflict says about US power
Who Is Monica Witt? 5 Things To Know
1. Worked in Middle East As US Air Force Counterintelligence Officer
Monica Witt was a counterintelligence officer who worked with the US Air Force Office of Special Investigation between 2003 and 2008. Her assignments were mostly in the Middle East, which led to her eventual defection.
Also read: Big US military action against Iran coming up? Trump reportedly ‘frustrated’ with stalled talks
2. Originally From Texas
Witt was born in Texas and entered the US Air Force in 1997 as a Persian language specialist at the Defense Language Institute. She later moved to the Special Investigation Unit and worked there till 2008. She was involved with Air Force intelligence till, at least, 2010.
3. Converted To Islam In 2012
According to her bio on Wikipedia, she converted to Islam in 2012 and became associated with Marzieh Hashemi, a suspected Iran operative in the US. The FBI believes that she defected to Iran with the help of Marzieh.
4. First Indicted In 2019
Monica Witt was first indicted in 2019 by then then-Assistant Attorney General John Demers. Demers had alleged that she was targeted and recruited by Iran. She was accused of leaking “highly classified intelligence collection program.”
5. Her Current Whereabouts Is Unclear
There is no information to suggest that Monica Witt is still in the United States. CNN reports that it is unclear if Witt has a lawyer in the United States to represent her. No information is available about her family in the US.
