DATE=8/2/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SPY SUSPECT INTERVIEW (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-252413
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  The Taiwanese-American scientist accused of 
spying for China has broken his silence about the 
case, denying he gave Beijing a wealth of secrets 
about nuclear weapons.   Still, U-S officials say Wen 
Ho Lee is at least guilty of a major security breach.  
V-O-A's David Swan reports.

TEXT: In his first public comments since the story 
broke months ago, Wen Ho Lee strongly maintains his 
innocence.  He is the prime suspect in the loss of 
design information on one of the Pentagon's nuclear 
warheads - data that could help the Chinese build 
multiple-warhead missiles.

Mr. Lee, who worked on the American warhead project 
and made several trips to China, has been under 
investigation since 1996.  But on the CBS News program 
"60 Minutes," he says he is  no  traitor and has done 
nothing wrong.  He believes investigators focused on 
him because they needed a scapegoat and his Taiwanese 
background made him a convenient target.

The Energy Department, which oversees nuclear weapons 
labs, fired Mr. Lee in March for breaking security 
rules.   Department officials say he moved a huge 
volume of data from classified computers to 
unclassified, relatively unsecure ones, which Chinese 
agents might be able to penetrate.   Mr. Lee says 
these transfers were a common practice, which he used 
to safeguard information from possible computer 
crashes.  Even on the unclassified system, he says, 
the secrets were kept behind three levels of passwords 
(protection), making it nearly impossible for 
intruders to break in.

The Clinton administration strongly disputes Mr. Lee's 
statements.  Energy Secretary Bill Richardson told "60 
Minutes" he committed massive security violations by 
moving information between computers and having 
unauthorized contacts with Chinese officials.  Mr. 
Richardson also denies Mr. Lee was unfairly blamed for 
the spy case.   While he may never be charged with 
espionage, Mr. Lee could still face lesser charges.  
Meanwhile, the Energy Department is considering major 
reorganizations to prevent any further loss of 
secrets. (Signed)

NEB/DS/KL



02-Aug-1999 12:52 PM LOC (02-Aug-1999 1652 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.