Former White House employee and CIA analyst accused of espionage
18 july 2024 в 22:02
Former high-ranking White House official and Central Intelligence Agency analyst Sue Mi Terry seems to have had a weakness for designer goods and Michelin-starred restaurants.
The North Korea expert has been indicted by a New York grand jury on charges of secretly working as a South Korean agent for the US intelligence service, the US Department of Justice reported, in exchange for designer labels, high-class sushi, and $ 37,000 for a fund she controlled. The 54-year-old woman, who first acted as a foreign agent in June 2013, five years after leaving the CIA, began meeting with an unknown «handler» «repeatedly», - according to the indictment revealed on Tuesday.
The 31-page indictment describes a years-long attempt to assist South Korean spies. The indictment states that she even introduced spies to congressional staff, an action she described as «bringing the wolf into the sheep’s pen».
«At the direction of officials from the Republic of Korea, Terry advocated for positions of the Republic of Korea’s policy, including publishing articles and appearing in the media, disclosing unpublished US government information to Republic of Korea intelligence officers, and facilitating access of Republic of Korea officials to US government officials», - the indictment claimed.
«Despite extensive actions for and at the direction of» the South Korean government, Ms. Terry did not register as a foreign agent with US officials, as required by law, prosecutors said. She faces two charges, one for failure to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and another for conspiracy to violate it.
In a statement, Terry’s lawyer Lee Wolosky said the charges are unfounded and distort the «work of a scholar and news analyst known for her independence and years of service to the United States».
He added: «When the facts become clear, it will become obvious that the government made a significant mistake».
Some of the gifts given, in addition to the $ 37,000 they concealed, marking them as a «gift» account at the tank center where she worked, included a $ 2,845 Dolce & Gabbana coat, a $ 2,950 Bottega Veneta bag, and a $ 3,450 Louis Vuitton bag, detailed in court documents.
The charges, brought by US prosecutor Damian Williams, are part of the coordinated efforts of the Department of Justice to combat foreign influence in American affairs. Such cases have been prompted by illegal donations from abroad, covert influence operations, and even bribery of Senator Robert Menendez, who was convicted on Tuesday
The North Korea expert has been indicted by a New York grand jury on charges of secretly working as a South Korean agent for the US intelligence service, the US Department of Justice reported, in exchange for designer labels, high-class sushi, and $ 37,000 for a fund she controlled. The 54-year-old woman, who first acted as a foreign agent in June 2013, five years after leaving the CIA, began meeting with an unknown «handler» «repeatedly», - according to the indictment revealed on Tuesday.
The 31-page indictment describes a years-long attempt to assist South Korean spies. The indictment states that she even introduced spies to congressional staff, an action she described as «bringing the wolf into the sheep’s pen».
«At the direction of officials from the Republic of Korea, Terry advocated for positions of the Republic of Korea’s policy, including publishing articles and appearing in the media, disclosing unpublished US government information to Republic of Korea intelligence officers, and facilitating access of Republic of Korea officials to US government officials», - the indictment claimed.
«Despite extensive actions for and at the direction of» the South Korean government, Ms. Terry did not register as a foreign agent with US officials, as required by law, prosecutors said. She faces two charges, one for failure to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and another for conspiracy to violate it.
In a statement, Terry’s lawyer Lee Wolosky said the charges are unfounded and distort the «work of a scholar and news analyst known for her independence and years of service to the United States».
He added: «When the facts become clear, it will become obvious that the government made a significant mistake».
Some of the gifts given, in addition to the $ 37,000 they concealed, marking them as a «gift» account at the tank center where she worked, included a $ 2,845 Dolce & Gabbana coat, a $ 2,950 Bottega Veneta bag, and a $ 3,450 Louis Vuitton bag, detailed in court documents.
The charges, brought by US prosecutor Damian Williams, are part of the coordinated efforts of the Department of Justice to combat foreign influence in American affairs. Such cases have been prompted by illegal donations from abroad, covert influence operations, and even bribery of Senator Robert Menendez, who was convicted on Tuesday
© Artemenko Olga
