Reality Winner, a former U.S. Air Force veteran and NSA translator, received a five-year and three-month prison sentence in 2018 for leaking classified information to the media. Her offense, the unauthorized release of an intelligence report on Russian interference in the 2016 US elections, resulted in the longest sentence ever imposed for such an act.
1917: Espionage Act of 1917
The Espionage Act of 1917 was enacted by the United States Congress.
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December 4, 1991: Reality Winner's Birth
Reality Leigh Winner was born on December 4, 1991.
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2010: Reality Winner Joins the Air Force
Reality Winner began her service in the United States Air Force in 2010.
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November 2016: Reality Winner Moves to Augusta and Seeks New Opportunities
Following her honorable discharge from the Air Force in November 2016, Winner relocated to Augusta, Georgia. There, she took on roles as an instructor at both a CrossFit gym and a yoga studio. She aspired to utilize her Pashto language skills to assist refugees and applied for positions with NGOs in Afghanistan. However, her lack of a college degree hampered her pursuit of overseas employment.
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2016: Reality Winner Leaves the Air Force
In 2016, Reality Winner was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force, attaining the rank of senior airman.
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2016: Russian Interference in the US Election
In 2016, Russia interfered in the US presidential election. Reality Winner later leaked classified information about this interference.
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2016: Reality Winner Leaks Classified Information
While employed by Pluribus International Corporation, Reality Winner, driven by her belief that the American public was being misled about Russia's attempts to influence the 2016 US election, actively sought and obtained a classified document outside her security clearance and anonymously sent it to The Intercept.
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February 13, 2017: Reality Winner Begins Working for Pluribus International Corporation
On February 13, 2017, Reality Winner started working for Pluribus International Corporation, where she was assigned to work at Fort Gordon, translating documents related to Iran's aerospace program.
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May 5, 2017: The Intercept Receives Classified Information from Reality Winner
The Intercept anonymously received a classified document from Reality Winner concerning Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election.
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June 3, 2017: Reality Winner Arrested for Espionage
On June 3, 2017, Reality Winner, employed by Pluribus International Corporation, was arrested under suspicion of leaking a classified intelligence report. The report, concerning Russian interference in the 2016 US election, was leaked to The Intercept.
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June 8, 2017: Reality Winner Pleads Not Guilty
On June 8, 2017, Reality Winner pleaded not guilty to the charge of "willful retention and transmission of national defense information" and was subsequently denied bail. Prosecutors argued that she might have been involved in other leaks and could potentially flee the country if released.
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August 29, 2017: Reality Winner's Attorneys File Motion to Suppress Statements
On August 29, 2017, Reality Winner's legal team filed a motion in district court to suppress her statements made to law enforcement. They argued that her Miranda rights were not read before her interrogation by the FBI on June 3rd.
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October 5, 2017: Court Denies Bail for Reality Winner
On October 5, 2017, the court denied a second request from Reality Winner's defense for bail, keeping her incarcerated.
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December 2017: Reality Winner's Defense Team Allowed to Discuss Classified Information
By December 2017, Reality Winner's defense team was granted permission to discuss classified aspects of the case with her in a secure facility.
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January 31, 2018: Court Upholds Denial of Bail for Reality Winner
On January 31, 2018, the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a lower court's decision to deny bail for Reality Winner. The court determined that no set of conditions could reasonably guarantee her appearance at trial, leading to her continued detention until her scheduled trial on October 15, 2018.
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June 2018: Guilty Plea Agreement
In June 2018, Reality Winner entered a guilty plea agreement.
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June 21, 2018: Reality Winner Requests to Change Plea
On June 21, 2018, Reality Winner formally requested the court's permission to change her plea to guilty.
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August 23, 2018: Reality Winner Convicted
On August 23, 2018, Reality Winner was convicted of removing classified material from a government facility and sending it to a news outlet.
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August 24, 2018: President Trump's Tweet
On August 24, 2018, President Donald Trump tweeted about Reality Winner's case, comparing it to Hillary Clinton's email controversy.
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October 15, 2018: Reality Winner's Trial Scheduled
Reality Winner's trial was scheduled to begin on October 15, 2018.
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2018: Reality Winner Sentenced for Espionage
In 2018, Reality Winner was sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison for leaking classified information about Russian interference in the 2016 US election. This marked the longest sentence ever imposed for this type of offense.
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March 29, 2019: Son Volt's Song "Reality Winner"
On March 29, 2019, American rock band Son Volt released their ninth studio album, "Union," which includes a song titled "Reality Winner" about her situation.
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2019: Comparison to Other Cases
In 2019, The Guardian compared Reality Winner's case to those of Daniel Everette Hale and Henry Kyle Frese.
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2019: "Is This a Room" Stage Play
In 2019, Tina Satter staged the play "Is This a Room," based on the transcript of Reality Winner's interview by the FBI.
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March 13, 2020: "This American Life" Feature
An excerpt from "Is This a Room" was aired in the March 13, 2020, episode of the radio show "This American Life."
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April 24, 2020: Request for Commutation Rejected
On April 24, 2020, a federal judge rejected Reality Winner's request for compassionate release due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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July 2020: Positive COVID-19 Test
Reality Winner tested positive for COVID-19 in July 2020.
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September 13, 2020: Recovery from COVID-19
By September 13, 2020, Reality Winner was recovering from COVID-19, although still experiencing occasional shortness of breath.
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September 2020: First Look Continues to Fund Reality Winner's Defense
As of September 2020, First Look, the parent company of The Intercept, was continuing to fund Winner's legal defense, having supported her financially since the beginning.
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October 2020: The Intercept Acknowledges Mishandling of Leaked Document
In October 2020, The Intercept, following an internal review, admitted that its handling of the classified document provided by Reality Winner fell short of their standards. This mishandling, attributed to "speed and recklessness," ultimately contributed to Winner's identification and arrest.
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March 2021: "United States vs. Reality Winner" Documentary Premiere
The documentary film "United States vs. Reality Winner," directed by Sonia Kennebeck, premiered at the South by Southwest festival in March 2021.
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April 21, 2021: "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee" Feature
Reality Winner's story was featured in the April 21, 2021, episode of the TBS series "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee."
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June 2, 2021: Reality Winner Released to Transitional Facility
On June 2, 2021, Reality Winner was released from prison to a transitional facility after serving a sentence for leaking classified information.
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October 10, 2021: "Is This a Room" Broadway Premiere
"Is This a Room," a play based on Reality Winner's FBI interview transcript, premiered on Broadway on October 10, 2021.
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December 5, 2021: "60 Minutes" Feature
Reality Winner's story was also featured in the December 5, 2021, episode of the CBS news program "60 Minutes."
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October 2022: Announcement of Biopic
In October 2022, a biographical black comedy film about Reality Winner's life, titled "Winner," was announced.
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February 2023: "Reality" Film Premiere
The film "Reality" premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in February 2023.
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May 29, 2023: "Reality" Film Release
HBO released "Reality," a film adaptation of "Is This a Room," on May 29, 2023.
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