![]() ![]() “Today’s plea is an example of the FBI’s work and commitment to protecting the United States and our national defense information,” said Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. “The FBI and its partners placed a high priority on this case because the defendant provided classified defense information to a foreign terrorist organization, information that put members of the U.S. for the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. military overseas would abandon her country in favor of terrorists,” said Assistant Director Alan E. “It’s astounding that an American working for the U.S. ![]() Thompson’s arrest and prosecution demonstrate that those who intentionally compromise classified information that is entrusted to them will face swift and dire consequences.” “The defendant’s complete betrayal of that trust placed the lives of American men and women on the battlefield, and their allies, in grave danger. “The United States entrusted the defendant with highly-sensitive classified information regarding one of its most critical tools - human intelligence in an active combat zone,” said Acting U.S. MARIAM THOMPSON LINGUIST PROFESSIONALDemers for the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “To describe this conduct is to condemn it. She will now be held to account for this disgraceful personal and professional betrayal of country and colleagues.” military as well as other individuals supporting the United States in a combat zone when she passed classified information to a person she knew was connected to Lebanese Hizballah, a foreign terrorist organization which intended to use the information to hurt this country,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. ![]() “Thompson jeopardized the lives of members of the U.S. Thompson pleaded guilty to transmitting highly sensitive classified national defense information to a foreign national who she believed would provide the information to Lebanese Hizballah, a designated foreign terrorist organization. ![]() military facility where she was entrusted with a top secret government security clearance. Prosecutors said that when officials searched her living quarters, they found a handwritten note in Arabic concealed under her mattress with information about Defense Department computer systems and warning of a Defense Department target.A Minnesota woman pleaded guilty today to one count of delivering national defense information to aid a foreign government.Īccording to court documents, Mariam Taha Thompson, 63, formerly of Rochester, Minnesota, worked as a contract linguist at an overseas U.S. Those files included the names of human assets, their photographs and cables detailing the information that the sources provided to the U.S. airstrikes targeted Iranian-backed forces in Iraq, Thompson repeatedly accessed dozens of files that she had no need to review. Prosecutors said that during a six-week period starting in late December, when U.S. She was arrested last week on the espionage-related allegation. Thompson was due in court later Wednesday for an initial appearance. WASHINGTON – A Defense Department contract linguist has been charged with giving classified information, including the names of American intelligence assets, to a Lebanese national with ties to Hezbollah, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.įederal prosecutors accused Mariam Taha Thompson, 61, formerly of Rochester, Minnesota, of turning over information that placed in danger those intelligence assets and American military personnel. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |