A Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation found that Watkins began a romantic relationship with James Wolfe, the director of security for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, prior to working for the newspaper. Wolfe was arrested on June 7 and charged with lying to investigators about his contacts with Watkins and three other journalists.
But the June 24 report revealed that Watkins “briefly dated another staff member at the committee,” citing interviews from her friends.
An indictment in June found that Watkins, 26, had a three-year romantic relationship with Wolfe, 58. They allegedly exchanged tens of thousands of messages.
Wolfe also allegedly helped Watkins in her career, according to the DOJ, but told FBI agents that he did not have professional, official, or personal relationships with any reporters. When the FBI agents showed him a photo with a female reporter identified in the indictment as “Reporter #2,” he admitted that he had lied, but said that he did not provide the reporter any classified information. Based on the information in the indictment, it’s likely that Reporter #2 is Watkins.
After admitting that he lied, Wolfe said that he did not have contact with any other reporters, but the indictment alleges he was in contact with three other reporters.
Wolfe’s relationship with Watkins began when she was a college undergraduate. The pair communicated, often on a daily basis, over the course of nearly four years. They also met in person in a variety of locations, including stairwells in the Hart Senate Office Building, restaurants, and Watkins’s apartment.
