In yet another appalling case of betrayal from within, former U.S. Army Sergeant Joseph Daniel Schmidt has pleaded guilty to attempting to hand over highly classified military secrets to Communist China — a shocking breach of national trust that should alarm every patriotic American.
Schmidt, now 31, served in military intelligence from 2015 to 2020, and during that time held access to “Secret” and “Top Secret” information. But instead of honoring the oath he swore to defend the United States, Schmidt reportedly tried to peddle that sensitive intelligence to the Chinese Communist Party — all for personal gain and out of sheer treachery.
After leaving the Army in 2020, Schmidt made a calculated move overseas, first to Turkey and then to Hong Kong, where he directly contacted Chinese officials. According to the Department of Justice, he didn’t just send a few emails — he actively created multiple, extensive documents outlining “high-level secrets” he hoped to sell. Even more disturbing, Schmidt allegedly retained a device used to access secure military networks and offered it to the Chinese to help breach American cyber defenses.
Let that sink in: a former U.S. soldier who was entrusted with America’s most sensitive information tried to hand our secrets — and a tool to break into our systems — over to our most powerful adversary.
Thankfully, this traitor wasn’t quite the spy mastermind he imagined himself to be. The DOJ revealed that Schmidt made amateurish internet searches such as “soldier defect” and “can you be extradited for treason,” which likely tipped off investigators. He was finally arrested in October 2023 upon arrival at San Francisco International Airport after years hiding abroad in China.
Brigadier General Rhett R. Cox, who heads U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, pulled no punches when addressing Schmidt’s betrayal. “This was not a lapse in judgment — this individual failed to uphold his oath to defend our nation and to protect the lives of those he served beside,” Cox said. “By attempting to provide classified information to China, he put our mission at risk and abandoned his fellow soldiers for personal gain.”
This case is a painful reminder that the biggest threat to American national security sometimes comes not from across the ocean — but from within our own ranks. And while it’s reassuring that Schmidt was ultimately caught and brought to justice, one has to ask: how many others like him might be out there?
According to court documents, Schmidt will be sentenced on September 9, 2025, and faces up to 10 years in prison and a \$250,000 fine — a penalty some would argue is far too lenient given the gravity of his actions.
In an era when the Biden administration seems more focused on pronoun briefings than protecting American secrets, it’s a good thing that agencies like the FBI and Army Counterintelligence are still doing their jobs. But this case underscores the urgent need for real leadership in Washington — the kind that prioritizes national security, not political theater.
Schmidt sold out his country. Let’s hope the justice system doesn’t sell out the consequences.
