Posted on 06/24/2025 7:40:08 AM PDT by DFG
Freshman Rep. Pat Harrigan introduced new legislation to ratchet up penalties on spies who funnel US secrets to foreign adversaries like China, Iran, North Korea and Russia.
The Foreign Adversary Federal Offense (FAFO) Act sets a mandatory minimum prison time of 10 years as well as a fine of up to $5 million for perps caught engaging in economic espionage for adversaries — and raises the maximum sentence to 20 years if it impacts critical infrastructure.
“When individuals steal defense secrets or compromise our critical infrastructure on behalf of China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea, they are committing an act of betrayal against this country,” Harrigan (R-NC) said in a statement.
“This legislation ensures they face severe, unrelenting consequences. There will be no plea deals, no light sentences, and no path to parole. If you betray America, you will face the full weight of American justice.”
Currently, individuals caught selling trade secrets abroad can face up to 15 years behind bars as well as a fine.
The FAFO Act would also hike the penalty for defense-related espionage for adversaries to a minimum of 15 years without parole. At the moment, the penalty for those crimes is usually up to 10 years in prison as well as a fine.
Harrigan’s legislation stipulates that the penalties are specific to “covered nations” from whom the Defense Department is banned from acquiring sensitive material. Countries on that list are: China, Iran, North Korea and Russia.
Under the proposed legislation, companies or other organizations that are convicted of economic espionage would face a fine of $20 million or five times the cost of the stolen trade secret.
“My FAFO Act is a direct response to the growing threat posed by foreign adversaries targeting the United States from within,” Harrigan stressed.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Hang them by the neck until dead!
what?! there should only be one sentence for traitors. remember Julius and Ethel Rosenberg?
I’m glad that it specifically only covers those few nations.
We wouldn’t want to punish spies from our “greatest allies” who engage in espionage against us.
What’s the goal here? To stop spying I gather. what is needed is a way for spies to escape their handlers extortion and the hangman noose. Something like if you voluntarily come in and admit your crimes and help the authorities you will have to face the music but in exchange leniency will be shown and there is a path toward having a normal life. You’ve got to think once the handler gets their hooks on to the spy there iis no way out as the handler starts to blackmail them with the threat to burn their treasonous asses. Have harsh punishment for those that got caught.
Republican from North Carolina.
Bingo. A spy is a spy, regardless of what country or korporation they're spying for.
“I guess dead Christians are just collateral damage in Israel’s quest for regional control” - Nitzy
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