Posted on 07/08/2010 3:07:17 PM PDT by kronos77
Mikhail Semenko, one of 11 Russian "illegals" accused of spying for Moscow against the United States, targeted leading Washington think tanks in an apparent effort to get close to policy makers in the American government.
Semenko, 28, who speaks fluent English, Spanish and Mandarin, is understood to have sought work at the New America Foundation and the Carnegie Endowment, both influential centrist think tanks with close ties to the Obama administration.
He was part of an alleged network of spies arrested on June 27 and 28 in northern Virginia, New York, Boston, New Jersey and Cyprus.
A "spy swap" between the Russian and American governments appeared to be in motion on Thursday, with one convicted Russian spy reportedly plucked from a Moscow prison and flown to Vienna.
The FBI alleges that Semenko discussed clandestine computer communications with an undercover agent posing as a Russian official, took $5,000 from him and then followed instructions to leave it at a "Dead Drop" location in Arlington, Virginia.
Semenko attended numerous think tank events and was an assiduous networker even for a Washingtonian. Although he arrived in the Washington area last November to work for the Travel All Russia travel agency, he appeared determined to secure employment closer to the heart of the US government.
Steve Clemons, a foreign policy fellow with the New America Foundation and blogger who has deep connections inside the Obama administration, recalled meeting Semenko at one of the think tank's events.
"He was an awkward, nice guy who was kind of shy for someone who was working the town so much. His shyness was memorable. He said he was a China and Russia expert and we were going to meet for lunch, in part because I was going to China this month."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
They were illegal aliens?
Obama stink tanks....It’s where you learn to read a monitor and all of Rev Wright’s speeches.
So who's pulling the strings??
Seems like a rational association. I'm reasonably certain that all America hating communists have like minded goals.
just following in the footsteps of Alger Hiss...
They’ll get the guy, debrief him, and then send him to Detroit to work for the local post office.
Wasn’t the Fort Hood Shooter on one of his panels also?
why do I doubt that the new America Foundation and the Carnegie foundation, “centrist think tanks” are about as centrist as the mainstream media
Has anyone checked the Voting records ? I wonder if these people were registered Democrats
GEE....wonder who the “double agent” could be.....golly gee whiz.....I just wonder....
I thought along those lines also.
Do they use teleprompters in their meetings?
‘influential centrist think tanks with close ties to the Obama administration. ‘
centrist with close ties to Obama...BS
Mikhail Semenko, one of 11 Russian "illegals" accused of spying for Moscow against the United States, targeted leading Washington think tanks in an apparent effort to get close to policy makers in the American government. Semenko, 28, who speaks fluent English, Spanish and Mandarin, is understood to have sought work at the New America Foundation and the Carnegie Endowment, both influential centrist think tanks with close ties to the Obama administration.
“one of 11 Russian “illegals” accused of spying for Moscow”
Well, you can hardly blame the Russians for trying to gather intelligence on the Communist menace/s;)
Perhaps this is how they recruit?
They are called ‘illegal aliens’ in the article. I’m guessing that didn’t stop even one from voting if they wanted. So yeah, check the voting records.
There are Russian spies who are much closer to Obama. Oh wait, you know that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.