Ex-FBI Agent Arrested

ABC News.com ^ | 4/9/2003 | Pierre Thomas

[StonyMan451]

A retired FBI agent who was in charge of Chinese counter-intelligence in California is under arrest, sources told ABCNEWS.

The former agent was identified as James Smith. He was being held in connection with his former job, sources said, but the charges were not immediately available.

Sources said Congress was being briefed on the arrest before it is announced to the public, which was expected to happen later today.

Department of Justice officials declined to comment on the case.

Smith retired in from his job in the bureau's Los Angeles office in 2000.

[syriacus]

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/news/040903_nw_ex_fbi_charged.html

Ex-FBI Agent Charged in LA, Gives Info to GOP Activist
A former FBI agent who helped investigate Clinton-era campaign finance allegations is being charged with passing classified information to a Republican activist in California.

James Smith was to appear Wednesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles to face a charge of gross negligence, federal law enforcement officials said.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Smith is accused of giving the information to Katrina Leung, a political activist with connections to the Chinese government.

The type of information was not immediately disclosed and it was not clear whether investigators believe any of the material reached the Beijing government.

Leung also could be charged, the sources said, declining to be more specific. A man who answered Leung's office phone Wednesday afternoon said she was declining to comment. [excerpt]

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.."IS it SAFE?" = HILLARY on Armed Services Committee..

http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=629

[syriacus]

High praises for Ambassador Li Dao-yu from mcee Katrina Leung

[TD911]

This whole thing stinks. Notice political activist has now been changed.

Ex-FBI Agent Arrested

Charged in Alleged Affair With Chinese Double Agent

By Pierre Thomas

April 9 — A retired FBI agent who allegedly had an affair with a Chinese double agent while he was in charge of Chinese counter-intelligence in California is under arrest, charged with gross negligence, sources told ABCNEWS.

<! -- begin print page / send page box -->

	Print This Page
	Email This Page
	See Most Sent

• Finding the Hot Jobs in a Wartime Economy

• Why Can't the IRS Collect Unpaid Taxes?

• Lack of Sleep Catches Up With Soldiers in Iraq

The former agent, identified as James Smith, allegedly had a sexual relationship with Katrina Leung, a Republican party activist in California, sources said.

When the couple would meet, Leung allegedly would sometimes go through Smith's briefcase and make copies of often-classified material, including the names of FBI agents investigating allegations of Chinese espionage, sources said.

Smith allegedly became aware of Leung's activities, but continued to let her do it.

Sources suspect Leung is a double agent for the Chinese.

Congress was being briefed on the arrest before it is announced to the public, which was expected to happen later today.

Department of Justice officials declined to comment on the case.

Smith retired from his job in the bureau's Los Angeles office in 2000. ABCNEWS could not immediately reach Leung for comment. A man who answered the phone in her office told The Associated Press that she was not commenting.

[Springman]

He won't roll over on that POS,
he knows he'll end up dead in his jail cell!!

[Yeti]

Better start spinning, folks. Someone needs to explain why she hasn't been arrested yet.

[CedarDave]

What the hell is a Republican party activist doing being a Chinese double agent? Makes no sense at all. But it gives something for the Dems to point to when Pubbies talk about Rat fund-raising from the Chinese.

[syriacus]

Someone needs to explain why she hasn't been arrested yet.

Chinese-American Double Agent Arrested in L.A.

Reuters ^

Posted on 04/09/2003 7:36 PM EDT by maui_hawaii

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A Chinese-American woman helping U.S. government agents as "an asset on China" allegedly stole classified documents from her FBI agent lover and then sent them to China, prosecutors said on Wednesday. Katrina Leung, 49, was arrested along with her lover, retired FBI Agent James J. Smith, 59. She was charged with obtaining documents related to national defense for the advantage of a foreign nation.[excerpt]

[_Jim]

When the couple would meet, Leung allegedly would sometimes go through Smith's briefcase and make copies of often-classified material,

A valid defense might involve a claim that the drug Rohypnol (the 'date rape' drug) was administered - after all, they only alledge that he was aware at some point later in time ...

[aristeides]

Wasn't the whole (national) investigation of '96 campaign corruption run by a DOJ lawyer who was Deputy U.S. Attorney in San Diego, and was promised the U.S. Attorney job, but didn't get it, because his conclusions in the investigation were unwelcome to the Clinton administration? What was that guy's name? Would this Smith guy have been that investigation's chief investigator?

What better way to keep the Clinton administration abreast of the course of the investigation than to have the chief investigator tip off the Chinese, who would then tip off the Clintons?

[ValerieUSA]

I'm suddenly thirsty for iced tea.

[Ben Hecks]

Charles LaBella?

[ValerieUSA]

WASHINGTON -- A former FBI agent who helped investigate Clinton-era campaign finance allegations is being charged with passing classified information to a Republican activist in California.

This crucial first sentence is a deliberate and dispicable mischaracterization of the spy who obtained the info. She was a double agent for China and the U.S.
Therein lies the crime.

[bd476]

I wonder when it became acceptable to reveal one's employer as the FBI, CIA or NSA?

Indeed, loose lips sink ships.

[Fred Mertz]

The more articles I see of this story, the more I think it is being released under the fog of war for reasons we're not supposed to know about.

[Alamo-Girl]

The guy is LaBella, as I recall.

[Yeti]

Chinese-American Double Agent Arrested in L.A.

Good.

[mcenedo]

Smith, who worked for the FBI for 30 years, was involved in the investigation into whether China tried to funnel money into the 1996 U.S. elections in a bid to gain influence. Smith worked with Democratic fund-raiser Johnny Chung, who cooperated with the FBI and pleaded guilty to charges stemming from his admission that he received $300,000 from Chinese intelligence officials to influence congressional campaigns.

The campaign finance connection was not mentioned in the FBI affidavit unsealed Wednesday.

Shocked, I am shocked that the guy who was supposed to be investigating Clinton for illegal Chicom $$$, was in fact a Chicom agent.

Nothing to see here folks, don't ya know, there's a war going on and all.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030410/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/fbi_agent_charged_12