DATE=8/2/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SPY SUSPECT INTERVIEW (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-252413
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Taiwanese-American scientist accused of
spying for China has broken his silence about the
case, denying he gave Beijing a wealth of secrets
about nuclear weapons. Still, U-S officials say Wen
Ho Lee is at least guilty of a major security breach.
V-O-A's David Swan reports.
TEXT: In his first public comments since the story
broke months ago, Wen Ho Lee strongly maintains his
innocence. He is the prime suspect in the loss of
design information on one of the Pentagon's nuclear
warheads - data that could help the Chinese build
multiple-warhead missiles.
Mr. Lee, who worked on the American warhead project
and made several trips to China, has been under
investigation since 1996. But on the CBS News program
"60 Minutes," he says he is no traitor and has done
nothing wrong. He believes investigators focused on
him because they needed a scapegoat and his Taiwanese
background made him a convenient target.
The Energy Department, which oversees nuclear weapons
labs, fired Mr. Lee in March for breaking security
rules. Department officials say he moved a huge
volume of data from classified computers to
unclassified, relatively unsecure ones, which Chinese
agents might be able to penetrate. Mr. Lee says
these transfers were a common practice, which he used
to safeguard information from possible computer
crashes. Even on the unclassified system, he says,
the secrets were kept behind three levels of passwords
(protection), making it nearly impossible for
intruders to break in.
The Clinton administration strongly disputes Mr. Lee's
statements. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson told "60
Minutes" he committed massive security violations by
moving information between computers and having
unauthorized contacts with Chinese officials. Mr.
Richardson also denies Mr. Lee was unfairly blamed for
the spy case. While he may never be charged with
espionage, Mr. Lee could still face lesser charges.
Meanwhile, the Energy Department is considering major
reorganizations to prevent any further loss of
secrets. (Signed)
NEB/DS/KL
02-Aug-1999 12:52 PM LOC (02-Aug-1999 1652 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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