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Newer News: October 2019

September 2019 Intelligence News

• American Citizen Arrested for Acting as an Illegal Foreign Agent of the People's Republic of China, Justice Dept news release, September 30. "The Department of Justice unsealed charges today in a criminal complaint charging Xuehua Peng, also known as Edward Peng, 56, for acting as an illegal foreign agent in delivering classified United States national security information to officials of the People's Republic of China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS)."
• What's in Trump's Super Classified Server and Why Is He Hiding Things There by Jason Koebler and Joseph Cox, VICE Motherboard, September 26. Putting a politically-damaging phone call with Ukraine on the "codeword-classified" system is highly inappropriate and would give Trump "maximum control over who sees it."
• Whistleblower case opens window into secret computer systems by Deb Riechmann, Associated Press, September 26. The whistleblower says the transcript was loaded into the system reserved for the most sensitive information, describing that as "an abuse of this electronic system because the call did not contain anything remotely sensitive from a national security perspective."
• IC Whistleblower Complaint, released September 26. "In the course of my official duties, I have received information from multiple U.S. Government officials that the President of the United States is using the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the 2020 U.S.election."
• IC Inspector General letter to the Acting DNI regarding IC Whistleblower Complaint, released September 26. "For the reasons discussed below, among others, I have determined that the Complainant has reported an 'urgent concern' that 'appears credible'."
• Former Intelligence Officer Convicted of Attempted Espionage Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison, Justice Dept news release, September 24. Ron Hansen, a former Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) officer, who pleaded guilty in March to attempting to communicate, deliver, or transmit information involving the national defense of the United States to the People's Republic of China, will serve 10 years in federal prison."
• The US Government Is Suing Edward Snowden by Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai, VICE Motherboard, September 17. "Snowden published his memoir, 'Permanent Record,' and the US government doesn't want him to make any money off of it."
• Lawsuit: US says Snowden breached contract by failing to submit memoir for pre-publication review, complaint, September 17. "The United States of America brings this civil action for breach of contract and fiduciary obligations against Defendant Edward Snowden . . . who published a book without submitting the manuscript for prepublication review."
• Peer pressure: 60 science groups call for end to Washington's crackdown on foreign-born researchers by Mark Magnier, South China Morning Post, September 11. "The organisations acknowledge national security concerns but seek a 'balanced approach that enables continued scientific collaborations'."
• Can President Trump Really Tweet A Highly Classified Satellite Photo? Yep, He Can by Geoff Brumfiel, NPR All Things Considered, September 5. "The rules about classification are laid out in very detailed presidential orders as part of a system run by the executive branch, and Trump is the boss."