Documents
Reality Winner Declaration
Sep. 1, 2017
Case Document 64 Filed 08/29/17 Page 1 of 6
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
AUGUSTA DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
'k
v. NO.
REALITY LEIGH WINNER
DECLARATION OF REALITY LEIGH WINNER
NOW COMES Reality Leigh Winner, who under penalty of perjury and from her own
personal knowledge, states:
1. I am over 18 years of age and competent to give testimony in this matter.
2. I have personal knowledge of all facts and circumstances in this Declaration.
3. On June 3, 2017, after coming home from the grocery store, I was confronted with
two armed male FBI agents outside my home. At that time, I was advised that law
enforcement had a search warrant for my house, my car, and my person. From the
moment law enforcement said that they were with the FBI and had a search warrant
not only for my house and car, but also my person, I understood that I was not free
to leave.
4. After brief conversation, eight more male, armed law enforcement agents, appeared
to execute the search warrant. Those agents came through my front door and
immediately began rummaging through my house. They were not accompanied by
any female agents or employees. I therefore understood that I would have to
continue to wait and would not be free to leave.
Case Document 64 Filed 08/29/17 Page 1 of 6
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
AUGUSTA DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
'k
v. NO.
REALITY LEIGH WINNER
DECLARATION OF REALITY LEIGH WINNER
NOW COMES Reality Leigh Winner, who under penalty of perjury and from her own
personal knowledge, states:
1. I am over 18 years of age and competent to give testimony in this matter.
2. I have personal knowledge of all facts and circumstances in this Declaration.
3. On June 3, 2017, after coming home from the grocery store, I was confronted with
two armed male FBI agents outside my home. At that time, I was advised that law
enforcement had a search warrant for my house, my car, and my person. From the
moment law enforcement said that they were with the FBI and had a search warrant
not only for my house and car, but also my person, I understood that I was not free
to leave.
4. After brief conversation, eight more male, armed law enforcement agents, appeared
to execute the search warrant. Those agents came through my front door and
immediately began rummaging through my house. They were not accompanied by
any female agents or employees. I therefore understood that I would have to
continue to wait and would not be free to leave.
Case Document 64 Filed 08/29/17 Page 2 of 6
5. After moving my dog to the fenced part of my yard, providing law enforcement the
keys to my car in response to their request, con?rming for law enforcement the
?rearms that I lawfully possessed and the location of such ?rearms in my house,
and providing assistance to law enforcement regarding my cell phone, the two
original FBI agents told me that they wanted to speak with me and asked if I would
rather Speak with them in my house or at the FBI of?ce. They advised meeting
with me would be voluntary and stated that it would be ?worth [my] time? to
?listen.? I was not told at that time, nor at any time, that I was free to terminate the
questioning at any time or free to leave the premises at any time. Nor was I advised
then or at any time that I had a right to remain silent; that anything I said could be
used against me; that I had a right to counsel; that if I could not afford counsel; a
court would appoint counsel to represent me; and that if I decided to answer
questions then without an attorney present, I would still have the right to stop
answering at any time until I spoke with an attorney.
6. The FBI agents then asked if they could speak with me in a small, unfurnished back
room in my house. The room is no more than 7? by I told the agents that the
room was ?creepy? and ?weird? and that I did not like to go back there. After they
suggested going back there, I acquiesced.
7. In entering the back room, as the questioning began, I sat with my back against the
wall, with both armed law enforcement agents standing in front of me. Both of the
agents were physically blocking the exit to the room. The door to the room, which
was on the opposite side of the room of where I was standing, was nearly shut.
There was an item hanging on the door that prevented it from being shut
completely.
Case Document 64 Filed 08/29/17 Page 2 of 6
5. After moving my dog to the fenced part of my yard, providing law enforcement the
keys to my car in response to their request, con?rming for law enforcement the
?rearms that I lawfully possessed and the location of such ?rearms in my house,
and providing assistance to law enforcement regarding my cell phone, the two
original FBI agents told me that they wanted to speak with me and asked if I would
rather Speak with them in my house or at the FBI of?ce. They advised meeting
with me would be voluntary and stated that it would be ?worth [my] time? to
?listen.? I was not told at that time, nor at any time, that I was free to terminate the
questioning at any time or free to leave the premises at any time. Nor was I advised
then or at any time that I had a right to remain silent; that anything I said could be
used against me; that I had a right to counsel; that if I could not afford counsel; a
court would appoint counsel to represent me; and that if I decided to answer
questions then without an attorney present, I would still have the right to stop
answering at any time until I spoke with an attorney.
6. The FBI agents then asked if they could speak with me in a small, unfurnished back
room in my house. The room is no more than 7? by I told the agents that the
room was ?creepy? and ?weird? and that I did not like to go back there. After they
suggested going back there, I acquiesced.
7. In entering the back room, as the questioning began, I sat with my back against the
wall, with both armed law enforcement agents standing in front of me. Both of the
agents were physically blocking the exit to the room. The door to the room, which
was on the opposite side of the room of where I was standing, was nearly shut.
There was an item hanging on the door that prevented it from being shut
completely.
Case Document 64 Filed 08/29/17 Page 3 of 6
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
During this time, the other eight male law enforcement of?cers were continuing to
rummage through my house.
The interview began with small talk, with a brief discussion of my employment,
how I made my way to Augusta, Georgia, my history in the military, my workout
regimen and various injuries I?ve suffered.
After this small talk, the agents reiterated to me that they had search warrants and
advised that they wanted to get my side of the story. The agents specifically advised
me at that time that they had a search warrant for my person.
The FBI agents in the room then began questioning me about a ?report? that I had
allegedly mishandled classi?ed information.
I answered their questions regarding my job, but then the agents told me that they
knew ?a lot more? than what they were telling me in their questioning, and that
?telling a lie to an FBI agent? is not a good thing, stressing that this was my
?opportunity? to tell the truth.
Law enforcement then interrogated me about the whereabouts of a particular
document, telling me that the document at issue had made its way outside of the
building where I worked, and that, ?far and ?away,? I was the ?most likely
candidate? as the culprit of their investigation. The agents told me that the evidence
they had was ?compelling.?
The FBI agents continued questioning me about the document, advising me that the
document that was published had been folded in half, was post-marked from
Augusta, and telling me the name of the media publication in which it appeared.
After sharing this information with me, the agents told me that they thought I had
just ?made a mistake,? that I had a ?good career,? and that if I was the culprit and
3
Case Document 64 Filed 08/29/17 Page 3 of 6
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
During this time, the other eight male law enforcement of?cers were continuing to
rummage through my house.
The interview began with small talk, with a brief discussion of my employment,
how I made my way to Augusta, Georgia, my history in the military, my workout
regimen and various injuries I?ve suffered.
After this small talk, the agents reiterated to me that they had search warrants and
advised that they wanted to get my side of the story. The agents specifically advised
me at that time that they had a search warrant for my person.
The FBI agents in the room then began questioning me about a ?report? that I had
allegedly mishandled classi?ed information.
I answered their questions regarding my job, but then the agents told me that they
knew ?a lot more? than what they were telling me in their questioning, and that
?telling a lie to an FBI agent? is not a good thing, stressing that this was my
?opportunity? to tell the truth.
Law enforcement then interrogated me about the whereabouts of a particular
document, telling me that the document at issue had made its way outside of the
building where I worked, and that, ?far and ?away,? I was the ?most likely
candidate? as the culprit of their investigation. The agents told me that the evidence
they had was ?compelling.?
The FBI agents continued questioning me about the document, advising me that the
document that was published had been folded in half, was post-marked from
Augusta, and telling me the name of the media publication in which it appeared.
After sharing this information with me, the agents told me that they thought I had
just ?made a mistake,? that I had a ?good career,? and that if I was the culprit and
3
Case Document 64 Filed 08/29/17 Page because of political reasons, that would make them feel better that they didn?t
?have a real serious problem.?
Law enforcement speci?cally asked me whether I believed the disclosure of the
document compromised the ?sources and methods? contained in the document, to
which I advised that it was likely those ?sources and methods? had already been
compromised.
I speci?cally told law enforcement that, ?whatever we were using had already been
compromised, and that this report was just going to be like a one drop in the
bucket.?
Given the nature of the questioning, as well as the physical characteristics of the
interrogation, and the search warrants that were contemporaneously being executed
at my house and car, I then asked the FBI agents whether I was going to be arrested
or was going to jail. One agent told me that he did not know the answer to that
?yet.? The other answer advised that they would have to ?make some phone calls.?
The FBI agents then ended the interrogation, which lasted approximately twenty-
?ve minutes.
After the questioning ended, I was instructed to stand out in my front yard, where I
stood for some time until another agent told me to wait in the fenced yard with my
dog. I
Finally, two female law enforcement officers arrived on the scene, arrested me, and
transported me to jail. In total, it took approximately two hours from the time the
original two FBI agents up until the time the two female officers showed up.
Case Document 64 Filed 08/29/17 Page because of political reasons, that would make them feel better that they didn?t
?have a real serious problem.?
Law enforcement speci?cally asked me whether I believed the disclosure of the
document compromised the ?sources and methods? contained in the document, to
which I advised that it was likely those ?sources and methods? had already been
compromised.
I speci?cally told law enforcement that, ?whatever we were using had already been
compromised, and that this report was just going to be like a one drop in the
bucket.?
Given the nature of the questioning, as well as the physical characteristics of the
interrogation, and the search warrants that were contemporaneously being executed
at my house and car, I then asked the FBI agents whether I was going to be arrested
or was going to jail. One agent told me that he did not know the answer to that
?yet.? The other answer advised that they would have to ?make some phone calls.?
The FBI agents then ended the interrogation, which lasted approximately twenty-
?ve minutes.
After the questioning ended, I was instructed to stand out in my front yard, where I
stood for some time until another agent told me to wait in the fenced yard with my
dog. I
Finally, two female law enforcement officers arrived on the scene, arrested me, and
transported me to jail. In total, it took approximately two hours from the time the
original two FBI agents up until the time the two female officers showed up.
Case Document 64 Filed 08/29/17 Page 5 of 6
22.
23.
24.
During the entirety of my encounter with law enforcement on June 3, 2017, prior
to being arrested, I was never provided any Miranda warnings.
During the entirety of my encounter with law enforcement on June 3, 2017, I was
never searched despite the agents advising me that they had a search warrant for
my person. In fact, I was not physically searched until after my arrest.
During the entirety of [my encounter with law enforcement on June 3, 2017, I was
never told I was free to leave and, in fact, given the circumstances, I never felt free
to terminate the interrogation or leave my home.
Reality Leigh Winner
Case Document 64 Filed 08/29/17 Page 5 of 6
22.
23.
24.
During the entirety of my encounter with law enforcement on June 3, 2017, prior
to being arrested, I was never provided any Miranda warnings.
During the entirety of my encounter with law enforcement on June 3, 2017, I was
never searched despite the agents advising me that they had a search warrant for
my person. In fact, I was not physically searched until after my arrest.
During the entirety of [my encounter with law enforcement on June 3, 2017, I was
never told I was free to leave and, in fact, given the circumstances, I never felt free
to terminate the interrogation or leave my home.
Reality Leigh Winner
Case Document 64 Filed 08/29/17 Page 6 of 6
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that on August 29, 2017, I electronically ?led the foregoing with the
Clerk of the Court using the ECF system, which sent noti?cation of such ?ling to counsel of
record for all parties.
John C. Bell, Jr.
JOHN c. BELL, JR.
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT
Case Document 64 Filed 08/29/17 Page 6 of 6
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that on August 29, 2017, I electronically ?led the foregoing with the
Clerk of the Court using the ECF system, which sent noti?cation of such ?ling to counsel of
record for all parties.
John C. Bell, Jr.
JOHN c. BELL, JR.
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT