The Justice Division has charged Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA analyst and senior legitimate on the Nationwide Safety Council, with appearing as a undercover agent for South Korea’s intelligence provider in alternate for luxurious presents.
Terry, 54, permitted luxurious presents, together with purses, dear foods at sushi eating places and $37,000 of investment for her public coverage program on Korean affairs in alternate for pushing South Korean executive positions all over media appearances, sharing non-public data with intelligence officials and facilitating conferences to permit South Korean officers to be granted get entry to to U.S. officers, the Justice Division stated in an indictment.
“As alleged, Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA and White Space worker, subverted international agent registration rules to be able to supply South Korean intelligence officials with get entry to, data, and advocacy,” U.S. Lawyer Damian Williams stated in a observation. “Terry allegedly offered out her positions and affect to the South Korean executive in go back for luxurious purses, dear foods, and 1000’s of bucks of investment for her public coverage program.”
“The fees introduced will have to ship a transparent message to these in public coverage who is also tempted to promote their experience to a international executive to think carefully and be sure to are according to the legislation,” he persisted.
SOUTH KOREA PREPARING ‘STARWARS’ LASER DEFENSE SYSTEM TO TAKE OUT NORTH KOREAN DRONES
Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA worker and senior legitimate on the Nationwide Safety Council, used to be charged with appearing as a undercover agent for South Korea’s intelligence provider in alternate for luxurious presents. (Getty Pictures)
Terry additionally confessed to the FBI that she acted as a supply of knowledge for South Korean intelligence, which integrated passing handwritten notes from an off-the-record June 2022 assembly with Secretary of State Antony Blinken about U.S. executive coverage towards North Korea during which she used to be provide for, in keeping with the indictment.
“Compromising nationwide safety endangers each and every American by way of weakening our defenses and hanging lives in danger,” FBI Performing Assistant Director in Price Christie M. Curtis stated in a observation. “Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA and White Space legitimate, used to be arrested for allegedly appearing as an unregistered agent for South Korea. For over a decade, regardless of repeated warnings, Terry allegedly exploited her assume tank roles to advance a international time table.”
“As alleged, she disclosed delicate U.S. executive data to South Korean intelligence and used her place to persuade U.S. coverage in want of South Korea … for cash and comfort presents,” Curtis persisted. “Her alleged movements posed a serious risk to nationwide safety. This arrest sends a transparent message: the FBI will pursue and arrest any person who endangers our country’s safety by way of participating with international spies.”
South Korea’s Nationwide Intelligence Provider stated Wednesday that intelligence government within the nation are in shut conversation with the U.S. in regard to this situation.
The fees in opposition to Terry, who labored for the U.S. executive from 2001 till 2011, stem from her behavior after she left the federal government and labored for assume tanks as a public coverage knowledgeable on international affairs.
Terry first labored as a CIA analyst on East Asian problems prior to later serving because the director for Korea, Japan and Oceanic Affairs for the Nationwide Safety Council after which because the deputy nationwide intelligence officer for East Asia on the Nationwide Intelligence Council. After leaving the federal government, she started running for assume tanks in New York and Washington, D.C., together with the Council on Overseas Family members.
Prosecutors accuse Terry of now not registering with the Justice Division as a international agent.
NORTH KOREA SAYS NEW MISSILE CARRIES ‘SUPER-LARGE WARHEAD,’BUT EXPERTS SKEPTICAL OF CLAIMS
Sue Mi Terry confessed to the FBI that she acted as a supply of knowledge for South Korean intelligence. (Getty Pictures)
Terry stated on disclosure paperwork filed with the Space of Representatives, the place she testified a minimum of 3 times between 2016 and 2022, that she used to be now not an “energetic registrant.”
She additionally by no means disclosed her covert paintings with South Korea, the indictment says, which averted Congress from having “the chance to reasonably assessment Terry’s testimony in gentle of her longstanding efforts” for the federal government.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Terry’s attorney, Lee Wolosky, stated in a observation that the allegations are “unfounded” and “distort the paintings of a student and information analyst identified for her independence and years of provider to the USA.”
Wolosky stated his shopper has now not held a safety clearance for greater than a decade and that her perspectives have remained constant.
“In reality, she used to be a harsh critic of the South Korean executive all over occasions this indictment alleges that she used to be performing on its behalf,” he stated. “As soon as the information are made transparent it’s going to be obvious the federal government made an important mistake.”
The Related Press contributed to this record.
