Ex CIA officer arrested for retaining classified information

but did he have intent?

More and more strange occurrences at US airports.
Seems like some sort of very long game sting has been sprung.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former Central Intelligence Agency officer was arrested at a U.S. airport on Monday night in connection with charges that he illegally retained highly classified information, the U.S. Justice Department said Tuesday.

What I am confused about is why it says they discovered these books in 2012 but he is only being arrested now. Very curious.

The Justice Department said that in 2012, FBI agents searched his hotel rooms during trips to Virginia and Hawaii. They discovered he had two small books containing handwritten information on details such as the true names and numbers of spy recruits and covert CIA employees.

He was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

Details are still sparse but he was trying to smuggle these books out of the country apparently

The small books were discovered inside Lee’s luggage, sealed in a small clear plastic travel pack.

The handwritten information inside ranged in terms of classification, but the agent said at least one page contained top secret information, “the disclosure of which could cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security of the United States.”

originally posted by: dashen
but did he have intent?

More and more strange occurrences at US airports.
Seems like some sort of very long game sting has been sprung.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former Central Intelligence Agency officer was arrested at a U.S. airport on Monday night in connection with charges that he illegally retained highly classified information, the U.S. Justice Department said Tuesday.

What I am confused about is why it says they discovered these books in 2012 but he is only being arrested now. Very curious.

The Justice Department said that in 2012, FBI agents searched his hotel rooms during trips to Virginia and Hawaii. They discovered he had two small books containing handwritten information on details such as the true names and numbers of spy recruits and covert CIA employees.

He was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

Details are still sparse but he was trying to smuggle these books out of the country apparently

The small books were discovered inside Lee’s luggage, sealed in a small clear plastic travel pack.

The handwritten information inside ranged in terms of classification, but the agent said at least one page contained top secret information, “the disclosure of which could cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security of the United States.”

It's not like he put classified info on an unsecured server in the basement of a residential home after receiving training on proper classified info handling protocol. Then got donations to a foundation that granted the same payees access to said classified info.

Sheesh----Why is "the man"coming down on him so hard?



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a reply to: dashen

What I am confused about is why it says they discovered these books in 2012 but he is only being arrested now. Very curious.

I would suggest that he was protected since 2012. It is amazing what the right ID will do.

Now that (bloody hopefully) the swamp is being drained, expect many of these ... all leading to the big one.

All sorts of three letter agencies can provide cover. Just remember the cases of drug dealers being free to peddle death while they assist this or that agency to bring down someone bigger.

Rules are only made for the peons to follow.

P

So Mr. Lee had 5 years to copy, transfer and/or sell the information that the government was fully aware of him having.
Top secret info that could cause exceptionally grave damage to the security of the US.

No worries.

Is "intent" really the issue here?

As a former agent, I can't imagine that Mr. Lee was unaware of the rules concerning this type of thing.

With that being the case, only a couple of scenarios would seem to fit the facts here.
1. He knew it was wrong, and had some nefarious purpose in mind.
2. He knew it was wrong, and simply didn't care.

Neither bodes well for Mr. Lee's future.

A lot of undercover operatives and assets perform their jobs at great risks to themselves and/or their families so it's really difficult to have any sympathy at all for anyone who would put them at risk, whether it's due to personal gain, apathy, or just massive stupidity. Anyone who does so should be dealt with harshly, and prosecuted to the full extent that the law allows.

String him up, hang him high.

He could have gotten people captured and killed in horrible ways. Their families, friends...then we all die in the thousands when no one can perceive and face our clandestine enemies.

Maybe he already did get people killed. I dont know how anyone can work in intelligence for our government anymore without seeing it as a 50/50 chance that they will get sold out somewhere down the line.

It feels like between all the leaks and corruption that a considerable number of our people have been identified.

Dangerous days.

im wondering if this wasnt published to flush out other conspirators?

they knew since 2012???
im just not getting it

a reply to: butcherguy

Yeah thats what I was thinking, plenty of time to digitize and transfer to wherever.

No worries

See if you can connect these two stories.

www.nytimes.com...



Watch This Space




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a reply to: Sillyolme

NICE FIND!

RIP agents

a reply to: dashen

He's being charged with endangering over twenty US agents.

www.express.co.uk...

Jerry Chun Shing Lee was arrested following an intensive investigation which began in 2012 as a number of US informants were identified by China.

An FBI inquiry into how the names of CIA spies were falling into Chinese hands led investigators to Mr Lee

a reply to: pheonix358

He was in Hong Kong.