Monica Witt

Monica Elfriede Witt (born (1979-04-08)8 April 1979) is a former United States Air Force technical sergeant and defense contractor who defected to Iran in 2013.

[5] The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) alleged that Witt appeared on television in Iran and converted to Islam there.

During the early days of the Iraq War, Staff Sergeant Witt was an Airborne Cryptologic Language Analyst deployed to the 95th Reconnaissance Squadron, stationed at Crete Naval Base.

When war broke out on 20 March 2003, the following three weeks saw sustained, major combat operations, and Witt was an aircrew member of a Boeing RC-135V/W Rivet Joint.

During this period, the airmanship and courage of Sergeant Witt in the successful accomplishment of these important reconnaissance missions in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, under extremely hazardous conditions, demonstrated her outstanding proficiency and steadfast devotion to duty.

Witt continued deploying, conducting classified operations in the Middle East, and had access to a special access program (SAP) "[housing] classified information, including details of ongoing counterintelligence operations, true names of sources, and the identities of U.S. agents involved in the recruitment of those sources."

[9][6] Speaking to the International Quran News Agency in 2013, Witt claimed that her desire to convert to Islam and pushback therefor were driving factors in her decision to leave the Air Force.

[5] For the rest of 2008, Witt worked in Maryland for Booz Allen Hamilton as a defense contractor, "consulting on 'Iranian subject matter' and providing 'language and cultural specialisation'."

Witt next worked for a contractor, Chenega Federal Systems, as a "Middle East Desk Officer [who] supervised, controlled, and co-ordinated the execution of highly sensitive counterintelligence operations against foreign intelligence services worldwide".

[2] Upon leaving the employ of United States Intelligence Community entities in August 2010, Witt lost her TOP SECRET/SCI security clearance.

Press TV also published an article by Witt in which she accused the United States Armed Forces of having "a prevailing culture of tolerance for sexual harassment".

[4] While in Iran, Witt was voluntarily video-recorded identifying as a US military veteran and making statements critical of the federal government of the United States.

While in Tehran, Witt spoke with Kevin Barrett saying "she had been involved in horrific war crimes with the Air Force, […] And she just felt really bad about it.

[6] Witt's US friends last heard from her in the summer of 2013 when she was in Afghanistan or Tajikistan teaching English as a second or foreign language; they reported her missing after several months of non-communication.

As part of their appeal to the public, the FBI announced that Witt had previously traveled to the United Arab Emirates and Iran.

[6] This sealed indictment (United States of America v. Monica Elfriede Witt) was released on 13 February 2019, detailing the charges[9] of espionage, fraud, and aiding and abetting.

From January 2014 through May 2015, Witt used fraudulent Facebook accounts to investigate intelligence personnel and prepare "target packages" for Iran to use and attempt recruitment.

[9] Witt is also alleged to have been involved in the questioning of ten United States Navy sailors captured in the 2016 U.S.–Iran naval incident.