[NautiNurse]

Oct. 5, 2005 — Both the FBI and CIA are calling it the first case of espionage in the White House in modern history.

Officials tell ABC News the alleged spy worked undetected at the White House for almost three years. Leandro Aragoncillo, 46, was a U.S. Marine most recently assigned to the staff of Vice President Dick Cheney.

"I don't know of a case where the vetting broke down before and resulted in a spy being in the White House," said Richard Clarke, a former White House advisor who is now an ABC News consultant.

Federal investigators say Aragoncillo, a naturalized citizen from the Philippines, used his top secret clearance to steal classified intelligence documents from White House computers.

In 2000, Aragoncillo worked on the staff of then-Vice President Al Gore. When interviewed by Philippine television, he remarked how valued Philippine employees were at the White House.

"I think what they like most is our integrity and loyalty," Aragoncillo said.

Classified Material Transferred by E-Mail

Officials say the classified material, which Aragoncillo stole from the vice president's office, included damaging dossiers on the president of the Philippines. He then passed those on to opposition politicians planning a coup in the Pacific nation.

"Even though it's not for the Russians or some other government, the fact that it occurred at the White House is a matter of great concern," said John Martin, who was the government's lead espionage prosecutor for 26 years.

Last year, after leaving the Marines, Aragoncillo was caught by the FBI while he worked for the Bureau at an intelligence center at Fort Monmouth, N.J.

According to a criminal complaint, Aragoncillo was arrested last month and accused of downloading more than 100 classified documents from FBI computers.

"The information was transferred mostly by e-mails," said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie at the time of Aragoncillo's arrest.

Since that arrest, officials say Aragoncillo has started to cooperate. He has admitted to spying while working on the staff of Vice President Cheney's office.

[quark]

...the first case of espionage in the White House in modern history.

Not even close. FDR's administration was riddled with Soviet spies, including Harry Hopkins, Roosevelt's top aide & confidante.

[aShepard]

......"In 2000, Aragoncillo worked on the staff of then-Vice President Al Gore"....

Incontrovertible evidence that this is absolutely Bush's fault.

[Michael.SF.]

"In 2000, Aragoncillo worked on the staff of then-Vice President Al Gore."

[StarFan]

"I don't know of a case where the vetting broke down before and resulted in a spy being in the White House," said Richard Clarke, a former White House advisor who is now an ABC News consultant.

Psst Mr. Clarke, before you start pointing blame it seems in 2000 Aragoncillo worked on the staff of then-Vice President Al Gore.

[newzjunkey]

a naturalized citizen from the Philippines

THIS is why we don't want to amend the Constitution to allow naturalized citizens to be President. They don't always leave their old nationalist loyalties behind.

Welcome back, NN. :)

[itsahoot]

"I don't know of a case where the vetting broke down before and resulted in a spy being in the White House," said Richard Clarke, a former White House advisor who is now an ABC News consultant

Gee I guess he don't count all the commies that infested the Roosevelt Whitehouse.

[TheHound]

Last year, after leaving the Marines, Aragoncillo was caught by the FBI while he worked for the Bureau at an intelligence center at Fort Monmouth, N.J.

According to a criminal complaint, Aragoncillo was arrested last month and accused of downloading more than 100 classified documents from FBI computers.

Can you make sense of this?

[rintense]

In 2000, Aragoncillo worked on the staff of then-Vice President Al Gore. When interviewed by Philippine television, he remarked how valued Philippine employees were at the White House.

Well there you have it. Prolly figured since Clinton/Gore helped the Chinese, he could help his home country too.

[luckystarmom]

I have one thought. Maybe we shouldn't be giving Top Secret clearance to naturalized citizens.

[CyberAnt]

Well .. I don't like this guy's connection to Gore. Did the guy get his training wheels while he was on Gore's staff .. and was he also spying on the VP for the former Gore people ..??

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Wonder who assigned him to the WH? Wonder who vetted him? Wonder if this was Miller's source? Wondering alot of things right now.

BTW, he never has been a Marine. I will never refer to him as one. I will not insult our Marines by putting this posing POS in the same sentence with the word "Marine".

Okay, maybe if I said "Let the Marines make up the firing squad."

[marty60]

Spying for WHO. The same al Queda guys that McVeah and Nichols contacted.

[af_vet_1981]

Federal investigators say Aragoncillo, a naturalized citizen from the Philippines, used his top secret clearance to steal classified intelligence documents from White House computers. In 2000, Aragoncillo worked on the staff of then-Vice President Al Gore. When interviewed by Philippine television, he remarked how valued Philippine employees were at the White House. "I think what they like most is our integrity and loyalty," Aragoncillo said.

Naturalized ...

How long did the Phillipines know and when, if ever, did they tell us ?

[steveegg]

In 2000, Aragoncillo worked on the staff of then-Vice President Al Gore. When interviewed by Philippine television, he remarked how valued Philippine employees were at the White House.

I think I'll keep that bit of info handy. Thanks.

[Texas Songwriter]

All I want to know if he was vetted under Clinton?

[Dog]

This guy doesn't live that far from me...20 miles or so.

[George Smiley]

I don't know of a case where the vetting broke down before and resulted in a spy being in the White House

Alger Hiss
Harry Dexter White
Lauchlin Currie
John Huang
James Riady

And that's just off the top of my head.

[burzum]

Officials say the classified material, which Aragoncillo stole from the vice president's office, included damaging dossiers on the president of the Philippines. He then passed those on to opposition politicians planning a coup in the Pacific nation.

EO 13292 (Amended form of EO 12958) says:

"Top Secret" shall be applied to information, the unauthorized disclosure of which reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security that the original classification authority is able to identify or describe.

"Exceptionally grave" means information that can start wars. This is yet another example of how important it is to safeguard national security information.

[Milligan]

I wonder how much classified information was stolen from Clinton and Bush Administrations?