THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release February 22, 1994
Statement by the Press Secretary
The Justice Department today announced the arrest of a
veteran, mid-level employee of the CIA and his wife on charges of
conspiracy to commit espionage. This ten-month investigation
culminated in the arrest of Aldrich Hazen Ames and Maria del
Rosario Ames. Since late 1991, Ames had served in the CIA's
Counter-narcotics Center.
The President views this as a very serious case involving
our national security. He has expressed his appreciation to the
FBI and the CIA for their successful efforts to crack this
difficult case. The President has instructed the State
Department to lodge a strong official protest with the Russian
Government. Secretary of State Warren Christopher has called in
the Russian Charge d'affaires for this purpose and our Ambassador
to Russia Tom Pickering is contacting senior officials of the
Russian government in Moscow this evening for the same purpose.
The President has instructed National Security Advisor
Anthony Lake, working with Director of Central Intelligence James
Woolsey and others, to lead a coordinated examination of the
national security implications of this case.
During the painstaking investigation, the Administration
took every precaution to limit potential damage to the national
security. The President and National Security Advisor were
apprised of the investigation as it was carried out.
I cannot comment on the legal aspects of the case against
Mr. and Mrs. Ames. I would refer any questions in this regard to
the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
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