March 2017 Intelligence News

Trump Says Flynn Right To Seek Immunity, Calls Russia Probe 'Witch-Hunt' RFE/RL 31 Mar 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has backed an offer by his former national security adviser to testify about his contacts with Russia in exchange for immunity from criminal prosecution.
White House Sends Mixed Messages About Flynn's Immunity Request in Russian Probes VOA 31 Mar 2017 -- The White House sent mixed messages Friday about former national security adviser Michael Flynn's conditional offer to cooperate with congressional investigators looking into contacts between President Donald Trump's campaign advisers and Russia.
Amnesty Says Uzbekistan Spying On Citizens At Home, Abroad RFE/RL 30 Mar 2017 -- Amnesty International says Uzbekistan's government is carrying out unlawful surveillance of its citizens domestically and outside of the country.
U.S. Senate Panel Digs Into Alleged Russian Election Meddling RFE/RL 30 Mar 2017 -- U.S. senators dug into Russia's alleged meddling during the 2016 presidential election, with outside experts testifying that, without a strong U.S. response, Moscow will do more of the same in the future.
Russian Election-meddling Tactics Exposed at Senate Hearing VOA 30 Mar 2017 -- Russia pulled off an unprecedented and wildly successful campaign to influence America's political conversation during last year's presidential campaign, according to experts who testified Thursday before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
White House Offers to Show Lawmakers 'Wiretap Documents' VOA 30 Mar 2017 -- Members of Congress looking into Russian interference in last year's presidential election have been invited to the White House to examine relevant secret documents.
State Department Employee Arrested and Charged With Concealing Extensive Contacts With Foreign Agents US Dept. of Justice 29 Mar 2017 -- A federal complaint was unsealed today charging Candace Marie Claiborne, 60, of Washington, D.C., and an employee of the U.S. Department of State, with obstructing an official proceeding and making false statements to the FBI, both felony offenses, for allegedly concealing numerous contacts that she had over a period of years with foreign intelligence agents.
Senate Panel to Follow Russia Probe 'Wherever Intelligence Leads It' VOA 29 Mar 2017 -- On the eve of closely watched public hearings, the Republican chairman and top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee pledged an exhaustive and impartial probe of Russian meddling in last year's election and any possible collusion by President Donald Trump's inner circle.
State Department Official Charged with Lying About Gifts from Chinese Agents VOA 29 Mar 2017 -- A long-time U.S. State Department employee has been arrested on charges of lying to investigators about numerous contacts and gifts she got from Chinese intelligence agents.
Nunes Controversy Could Stall House Russia Inquiry VOA 29 Mar 2017 -- Embattled House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes threw a formerly bipartisan investigation of Russian election interference into doubt Tuesday, as he rejected calls for his recusal and stopped the committee's work for the rest of the week.
Turkey spying on Gulen supporters unacceptable: German minister Press TV 28 Mar 2017 -- A German state minister has accused Turkey of committing "unacceptable" acts of espionage against the purported followers of exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara accuses of having engineered last July's botched coup in the country.
House Intel Chairman Rejects Calls to Recuse Self From Russia Probe VOA 28 Mar 2017 -- The House Intelligence Committee has canceled all meetings this week as its chairman, Devin Nunes, rejects Democratic calls to recuse himself from the committee's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
House Intel Chairman Met Source on White House Grounds VOA 27 Mar 2017 -- The chairman of the U.S. House intelligence committee, David Nunes, met a source on White House grounds before making his disclosure last week that President Donald Trump was caught up in "incidental" surveillance, according to his spokesman.
Flynn discussed removing Gulen with Turkish officials: Ex-CIA chief Press TV 25 Mar 2017 -- President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn discussed with senior Turkish officials the possibility of removing Turkey's exiled opposition figure Fethullah Gulen, who is accused by Ankara of masterminding a coup attempt last year, according to a report.
Cancellation of Hearing on Russia Adds to Friction on House Intelligence Panel VOA 24 Mar 2017 -- Key U.S. lawmakers appear locked into a war of words over halting progress in their investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election campaign.
House Panel Wants More Details From NSA, FBI on Russia Hacking VOA 24 Mar 2017 -- The U.S. congressional committee tasked with investigating allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign has asked the heads of the FBI and National Security Agency to testify again about the matter, the head of the committee said Friday.
US House Intelligence Panel Weighs Future of Wiretap Probe VOA 23 Mar 2017 -- The House of Representatives Intelligence Committee met behind closed doors Thursday, a day after its investigation into wiretapping allegations involving President Donald Trump and his predecessor, former President Barack Obama, was thrown into disarray.
Latest Twists Threaten to Bog Down Congress' Russia Investigation VOA 23 Mar 2017 -- An extraordinary public airing of the usually hidden inner workings of the U.S. intelligence community is rapidly casting doubt on the ability of lawmakers to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
US House intel. chair apologizes to Democratic members Press TV 23 Mar 2017 -- The House Intelligence Committee chairman has apologized to committee Democrats for going public with information about government surveillance on the Trump election campaign prior to speaking to them, according to a member.
Nunes Apologizes to Intel Committee for Briefing Trump on Surveillance Sputnik 23 Mar 2017 -- US House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes apologized to members of the committee for briefing President Donald Trump on new information regauding surveillance before discussing it with ranking member Adam Schiff, a committee aide said on Thursday.
Top Democrat seeks investigation into House intel. chair Press TV 23 Mar 2017 -- A top Democrat calls for an investigation into the House intelligence chair, who bypassed the panel to brief President Donald Trump on information related to US surveillance of his transition team.
'Dark Matter': Wikileaks Releases New Batch of 'Vault-7' on CIA Hack Techniques Sputnik 23 Mar 2017 -- Wikileaks has released a new batch of 'Vault 7' revelations on CIA hacking techniques.
WikiLeaks: CIA Can Infect 'Factory Fresh' iPhones VOA 23 Mar 2017 -- The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency has technology capable of infecting "factory fresh" iPhones and has been bugging the devices since at least 2008, WikiLeaks claimed Thursday.
Former Moldovan Deputy Arrested Amid Allegations of Spying For Russia RFE/RL 20 Mar 2017 -- A former member of the Moldovan parliament has been arrested amid allegations he spied for Russia, according to news reports on March 19 that cited unidentified law-enforcement officials.
Key US Officials to Testify about Trump's Wiretap Claim VOA 19 Mar 2017 -- Two key U.S. officials are set to testify publicly about whether there is any truth behind the explosive, but unsubstantiated, claim by U.S. President Donald Trump that former President Barack Obama wiretapped his Trump Tower headquarters in the weeks before last year's presidential election.
Undercover FSB Officer Indicted By U.S. Worked For Moscow Investment Bank RFE/RL 18 Mar 2017 -- One of the two Russian FSB agents indicted by U.S. officials this week worked as an undercover officer at Renaissance Capital, a Moscow investment bank owned by billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov.
Japan launches new spy satellite amid tensions with North Korea Press TV 17 Mar 2017 -- Japan has launched a new spy satellite into space in an apparent mission to enhance the monitoring of North Korea.
Japan Launches IGS Radar-5 Spy Satellite Sputnik 17 Mar 2017 -- Japan has launched the IGS Radar-5 surveillance satellite aboard an H-2A rocket.
White House Says It Was Not Accusing U.K. Of Spying On Trump RFE/RL 17 Mar 2017 -- The White House said it was not accusing Britain of spying on Donald Trump when his spokesman cited a news item suggesting that British intelligence had conducted surveillance on the then presidential candidate.
UK Calls Trump Wiretap Claims 'Ridiculous' VOA 17 Mar 2017 -- Britain on Friday called President Donald Trump's claims that a British spy agency was involved in wiretapping Trump Tower "ridiculous" and said it received assurances from the White House that the claims wouldn't be repeated.
Senate Intelligence Leaders say No Evidence Obama Wiretapped Trump VOA 16 Mar 2017 -- The leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee say there is no evidence to support President Donald Trump's allegation that former President Barack Obama wiretapped his Trump Tower headquarters in New York in the weeks before last November's election.
Trump 'Stands by' Allegations of Wiretapping Conducted by Obama Sputnik 16 Mar 2017 -- President Donald Trump maintains his allegation of wiretapping by former President Barack Obama, White House spokesperson Sean Spicer said during a press briefing on Thursday.
Retired officer arrested for spying for China: report CNA 16 Mar 2017 -- A retired military officer who was on the security detail of former Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) was arrested Monday for spying for China, a local newspaper reported Thursday, citing unnamed investigators and law enforcement officers.
MAC denies 5,000 Chinese spies in Taiwan CNA 16 Mar 2017 -- The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Thursday denied a media report that 5,000 Chinese spies are currently in Taiwan.
Two spies arrested at Abu Musa Island IRNA 15 Mar 2017 -- Hormuzgan Border Commander at Hormuzgan colonel Ali Mirshamsi said on Wednesday that two spies under the guise of tourist were arrested at Abu Musa Island in the second half of the Iranian year.
Estonia Court Denies Parole for Convicted Russian Spy Sputnik 15 Mar 2017 -- Estonia's Tartu County Court on Wednesday denied parole for a former chief of the Estonian Defense Ministry's security department, Herman Simm, who was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison for espionage on behalf of Russia, the press service of the court said.
Trump Gives CIA Power to Use Drones to Bomb Suspected Terrorists Sputnik 14 Mar 2017 -- On Monday, US President Donald Trump gave the CIA the green light to conduct drone strikes against suspected militants, according to the Wall Street Journal.
US loosening limits on Pentagon drone raids: Report Press TV 14 Mar 2017 -- The administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to roll back limitations that tie the Pentagon's hands in carrying out lethal drone strikes around the world, officials say.
Taipei, Beijing quarrel over arrest in 'spying' case Press TV 13 Mar 2017 -- A senior Taiwanese official says China does not correctly understand self-ruled Taiwan's judicial system, days after Beijing accused Taiwan of seeking to stir up tensions by arresting a Chinese national over espionage charges.
US House of Representatives Wants Trump's Evidence in Wiretap Claim VOA 12 Mar 2017 -- The U.S. House Intelligence Committee is calling on President Donald Trump to produce evidence by Monday on his so-far unfounded claim that his phones at Trump Tower in New York were wiretapped during last year's presidential campaign.
US House Intelligence Committee Asks Trump for 'Wiretapping' Evidence Sputnik 12 Mar 2017 -- The list of those asking US President Donald Trump to please present some evidence of the wiretapping he alleged his processor subjected him to is growing and now includes the US House Intelligence Committee.
Chinese man held incommunicado for alleged espionage CNA 10 Mar 2017 -- The Taipei District Court on Friday detained a Chinese man incommunicado who has been accused of trying to gather classified information, in violation of Taiwan's National Security Act.
US will 'use the full force of the law' on WikiLeaks: Pence Press TV 10 Mar 2017 -- US Vice President Pence has said the Trump administration will "use the full force of the law" to go after those involved in WikiLeaks' latest episode after the whistleblower website released thousands of documents that reveal the CIA's hacking and spying secrets.
Russia deems leaked data on CIA plausible: FM Lavrov Press TV 10 Mar 2017 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Moscow considers the information recently leaked about the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)'s hacking techniques as "quite plausible."
Assange Accuses CIA of 'Devastating Incompetence' Over Leaks VOA 09 Mar 2017 -- WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange accused the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency of "devastating incompetence" Thursday after his organization was able to obtain and publish documents related to CIA hacking programs.
WikiLeaks endangering US personnel and operations: CIA Press TV 09 Mar 2017 -- The CIA has publicly accused WikiLeaks of "jeopardizing" the US national security and helping adversaries inflict harm on the United States over the leak of thousands of documents that reveal the agency's hacking and spying secrets.
CIA leaks prompt criminal investigation Press TV 09 Mar 2017 -- US intelligence agencies have launched a criminal investigation into the publication of a series of highly classified CIA hacking secrets by WikiLeaks.
CIA Says WikiLeaks 'Equips Our Adversaries'; Assange Sees 'Incompetence' RFE/RL 09 Mar 2017 -- The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has accused WikiLeaks of putting Americans in danger with its release of thousands of documents that the group said were part of a U.S. cyberespionage toolkit.
Trump Believes Outdated CIA Computer Systems Need to Be Updated Sputnik 09 Mar 2017 -- US President Donald Trump believes that the computer systems of the CIA are outdated and should be updated, according to White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer.
Turkey has increased 'intelligence efforts' in Germany, Berlin says Press TV 08 Mar 2017 -- Germany's domestic intelligence agency BfV has warned about Turkey's increased espionage activities in Germany, amid souring relations between the two countries ahead of a Turkish referendum to boost the power of the president.
German Domestic Intelligence Marks Increase of Turkish Spying Activities Sputnik 09 Mar 2017 -- Germany's domestic intelligence service registered a boost in Turkish spying activities.
CIA using technique to impersonate Russian hackers: Leaks Press TV 08 Mar 2017 -- The CIA has routinely used techniques that enable the spy agency's hackers to stage false-flag operations in cyberspace and leave behind "fingerprints" of hackers from Russia, according to the latest internal documents published by WikiLeaks.
Leaked CIA Documents Show Frankfurt As Regional Hub For Cyberespionage RFE/RL 08 Mar 2017 -- The U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt was the hub for U.S. cyberespionage in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, according to some of the thousands of purported Central Intelligence Agency documents released by WikiLeaks.
Germany Taking WikiLeaks Information on CIA Surveillance 'Very Seriously' Sputnik 08 Mar 2017 -- Germany is in constant contact with the United States on the issues of cybersecurity and is taking information released by WikiLeaks on Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) espionage seriously, German Foreign Ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer said Wednesday.
Tech Companies Respond to Alleged CIA Hacking Tools VOA 08 Mar 2017 -- Major technology firms say they are moving to fix any vulnerabilities in their operating systems, a day after WikiLeaks released documents pertaining to an alleged CIA hacking arsenal capable of spying on people through microphones in mobile phones and other electronic devices, such as smart televisions.
Pakistani Alleged Spy For Iran Goes On Trial in Berlin RFE/RL 08 Mar 2017 -- A Pakistani man went on trial in a Berlin court on March 8 to face charges that he was spying on Israeli and Jewish institutions for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp. (IRGC).
US Spy Agency Staggers, But Still Standing After Latest WikiLeaks Dump VOA 07 Mar 2017 -- The latest alleged bombshell meant to send shockwaves through the U.S. intelligence community is stoking renewed fears about the ability to secure classified information. But former intelligence officials say, at least for now, it is unlikely the apparent leak will do significant damage to U.S. cyber capabilities.
Wikileaks says it has published CIA hacking secrets Press TV 07 Mar 2017 -- The whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks says it has obtained and published thousands of documents by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that reveals the US spy agency's hacking secrets, including its ability to penetrate encrypted communications.
WikiLeaks Claims Exposure of CIA Hacking Program in New Document Dump VOA 07 Mar 2017 -- The online whistleblower organization WikiLeaks has published thousands of pages of what it says are confidential CIA documents that expose a massive hacking program employed by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.
Suspected IS Loyalists Execute Pakistani Spy Agency Officer VOA 04 Mar 2017 -- Police and witnesses in central Pakistan say that suspected Islamic State militants have executed a kidnapped officer of the country's prime intelligence agency and dropped his chained body on a busy road before driving away.
Pakistan Plans to Play Terror Card by Prosecuting Alleged Indian Spy Sputnik 04 Mar 2017 -- Pakistan detains Indian citizen which it claimed was Indian RAW agent arrested in Balochistan last year.
Senators approach MI6 spy to testify on Trump's Russia ties Press TV 03 Mar 2017 -- A former MI6 spy who compiled the explosive dossier on President Donald Trump's alleged links with Russia has been approached to testify before the US Senate Intelligence Committee, according to a report.
Trump's Choice For Top Intelligence Post Views Russia With 'Grave Concern' RFE/RL 01 Mar 2017 -- President Donald Trump's nominee for the top U.S. intelligence post, the director of national intelligence, says he views Russia's actions on the international stage with "grave concern."
Italy Grants Partial Pardon to Ex-CIA Officer on Rendition Charges Sputnik 01 Mar 2017 -- Sabrina de Sousa, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agent who faces a four-year sentence in Italy for her role in a 2003 kidnapping of a terror suspect in Milan, has been granted a partial pardon by Italy's president, media reported.
Germany Poised to Mount More Raids on Turkish Imams Accused of Spying VOA 01 Mar 2017 -- Tensions are increasing between Berlin and Ankara over claims that Turkey has been using Islamic preachers in Germany to spy on supporters of Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based cleric who President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses of orchestrating last July's failed coup against him.

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