February 2020 Intelligence News

Trump Names Republican Lawmaker To Be U.S. Director Of Intelligence RFE/RL 29 Feb 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump says he will for the second time nominate Republican Representative John Ratcliffe to be his director of national intelligence (DNI) and oversee the country's 17 spy agencies.
Chinese National Sentenced for Stealing Trade Secrets Worth $1 Billion US Dept. of Justice 27 Feb 2020 -- A former associate scientist was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison in federal court today for stealing proprietary information worth more than $1 billion from his employer, a U.S. petroleum company.
Hunt for Russian Black Ops Specialist Ranges From Spain to Bulgaria VOA 27 Feb 2020 -- An international manhunt for a Russian spy chief accused of plotting assassinations and coups in several countries is shedding light on how Russia's covert activities have been increasing throughout Europe, according to Western intelligence analysts.
Trump Campaign Sues New York Times For Libel Over Russia Story RFE/RL 26 Feb 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump's reelection campaign has filed a libel lawsuit against The New York Times (NYT), accusing it of falsely asserting a trade-off between Russian officials and the president's 2016 campaign.
Growing Calls for US Intelligence to Clear Up Russian Meddling Allegations VOA 26 Feb 2020 -- Pressure appears to be building on the White House and U.S. intelligence agencies to declassify some information and brief the public on possible Russian attempts to meddle in the upcoming presidential election.
Was A Russian Diplomat In Geneva An Agent Overseeing A Secret Hit Squad? Bellingcat Says Yes RFE/RL 25 Feb 2020 -- A Russian man who had diplomatic credentials in Geneva was in fact a military intelligence officer linked to a secret hit squad accused of a spate of poisonings in Europe, according to a new report by the open-source investigative organization Bellingcat.
Boris Johnson leaps to Priti Patel's defence in her conflict with MI5 Press TV 24 Feb 2020 -- Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has denied a damaging rift with MI5 bosses who are reportedly concerned about her foreign connections and aggressive leadership style.
MI5 bosses reported to be wary of 'bullying' and over-ambitious Patel Press TV 23 Feb 2020 -- Britain's hard right Home Secretary, Priti Patel, is under renewed pressure today as reports emerge of a serious rift between her and the chiefs of the Security Service, MI5.
US national security adviser rejects Russia's meddling in US 2020 election Press TV 23 Feb 2020 -- The US national security adviser has dismissed claims that the Russians are interfering in the 2020 presidential election with the goal of reelecting incumbent President Donald Trump.
U.S. National Security Chief Denies Seeing Evidence Of Russia Meddling To Help Trump RFE/RL 23 Feb 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump's national-security adviser says he has seen no intelligence indicating that Russia is attempting to help the president's reelection campaign.
US National Security Adviser: Russian Election Meddling a 'Non-story' VOA 23 Feb 2020 -- U.S. national security adviser Robert O'Brien said Sunday that he has not seen "any evidence" that Russia is doing anything to help President Donald Trump get re-elected, but acknowledged he has not sought out intelligence reports that allege Moscow is interfering in the 2020 election.
U.S. Officials Link COVID-19 Disinformation Campaign To Russian Proxy Accounts RFE/RL 22 Feb 2020 -- Officials in the United States have said that thousands of Russia-linked social media accounts have launched a coordinated effort to spread alarm and misinformation about the COVID-19 crisis.
Ex-CIA chief says Trump has put US in 'full-blown national security crisis' Press TV 22 Feb 2020 -- Former CIA Director John Brennan has warned about the President Donald Trump's alleged interference in the operations of US intelligence agencies, describing it as "a full-blown national security crisis."
U.S. Candidate Sanders Blasts Russia Amid Reports Moscow Trying To Aid Campaign RFE/RL 22 Feb 2020 -- Russia has once again taken a prominent role in the U.S. presidential campaign, with intelligence officials warning lawmakers that Moscow is meddling in the process to support President Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Senator Bernie Sanders.
Russia rejects claims of meddling in 2020 US election Press TV 21 Feb 2020 -- The Kremlin has rejected "paranoid" claims that Moscow is seeking to meddle in the 2020 presidential election in the United States.
US intelligence told lawmakers of Russian effort to boost Trump Press TV 21 Feb 2020 -- US intelligence officials claim that Russia is interfering in the 2020 presidential campaign by trying to boost President Donald Trump's reelection, a report says.
Trump Dismisses U.S. Intelligence Reports Warning Of Russian Help In His 2020 Relection Bid RFE/RL 21 Feb 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected reported assertions by U.S. intelligence officials that Russia was interfering in the 2020 presidential election in a bid to help his reelection campaign.
Trump Cleaning House, Teasing New Leadership for Top Intel Agency VOA 21 Feb 2020 -- The White House will start with a clean slate as it works to reshape the leadership of the United States intelligence community, pushing the country's acting No. 2 official out just days after firing his boss.
Trump's Acting Intelligence Appointee Doesn't Expect To Be Named For Permanent Post RFE/RL 21 Feb 2020 -- Richard Grenell, who was named U.S. President Donald Trump's acting director of intelligence, says he does not expect to be named to the post permanently.
Bulgarian Prosecutors Identify Three Russians Suspected In 2015 Poisoning Case RFE/RL 21 Feb 2020 -- Prosecutors in Bulgaria have filed criminal charges against three Russian citizens in connection with the attempted poisoning in 2015 of arms dealer Emilian Gebrev.
Reports: Trump Canned Acting Intel Chief Over Warnings About Russia VOA 20 Feb 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump made the decision to cast out his top intelligence official following a classified briefing to lawmakers about election security, according to reports.
US intelligence told lawmakers of Russian effort to boost Trump Press TV 21 Feb 2020 -- US intelligence officials claim that Russia is interfering in the 2020 presidential campaign by trying to boost President Donald Trump's reelection, a report says.
Trump Names Ambassador To Germany, Serbia-Kosovo Envoy To Intelligence Post RFE/RL 20 Feb 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has named Richard Grenell, the U.S. ambassador to Germany and special envoy to Serbia and Kosovo, to become the acting director of national intelligence, a move immediately blasted by critics.
Statement from the Press Secretary The White House 20 Feb 2020 -- "Today, the President designated United States Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell as Acting Director of National Intelligence."
Trump Names US Ambassador to Germany, Robert Grenell, Acting Intelligence Chief VOA 20 Feb 2020 -- President Donald Trump has named ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, a staunch Trump loyalist, as the acting director of national intelligence.
US Ambassador to Germany Grenell Takes Charge of US Intelligence, for Now VOA 20 Feb 2020 -- The soon-to-be acting chief of the United States' intelligence agencies says he won't be on the job for long.
Former DIA Employee Pleads Guilty to Leaking Classified National Defense Information to Journalists US Dept. of Justice 20 Feb 2020 -- An employee of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) pleaded guilty today to charges related to his disclosure of classified national defense information (NDI) to two journalists in 2018 and 2019.
Assange's Lawyer Claims WikiLeaks Founder Was Offered U.S. Pardon If He Denied Russia's Role RFE/RL 19 Feb 2020 -- A lawyer for Julian Assange said the WikiLeaks founder will tell a judge during his extradition hearing that he was offered a pardon by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump in exchange for publicly saying that Russia was not involved in the leak of National Democratic Committee e-mails.
Trump offered Assange pardon to cover up Russia alleged hacking Press TV 19 Feb 2020 -- US President Donald Trump sent someone to the Ecuadorian embassy to tell Julian Assange that he would be pardoned if he denied that Russia leaked emails of his 2016 election rival's campaign, says the lawyer of the WikiLeaks founder.
Mexican Man Arrested In Miami, Accused Of Working As Russian Agent RFE/RL 19 Feb 2020 -- A Mexican citizen has been arrested on suspicion of working for a Russian government official to track down the vehicle of a "U.S. government source" in the Miami area of Florida and informing the Russian of its whereabouts.
China issues regulations on classified military information PLA Daily 19 Feb 2020 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) signed an order to issue the Regulations on Military Information Classification and Handling Standard. The Regulations will go into effect on Mar. 1, 2020.
U.S. largest state actor of spying in cyberspace: FM spokesperson People's Daily 18 Feb 2020 -- Facts have proven once again that the United States is the largest state actor of spying in cyberspace, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said Monday, urging the United States to clarify to the international community on relevant affairs.
Iran Sentences Eight Environmental Activists On Charges Of Spying For U.S. RFE/RL 18 Feb 2020 -- Iran's judiciary says it has issued prison sentences for eight environmental activists, including an Iranian who also has British and U.S. citizenship, on charges of spying for the United States and acting against Iran's national security.
Individual Arrested for Acting Within the U.S. on Behalf of the Russian Government Without Notifying the Attorney General US Dept. of Justice 18 Feb 2020 -- Hector Alejandro Cabrera Fuentes, a Mexican citizen residing in Singapore, was arrested based on a Complaint charging him with acting within the United States on behalf of a foreign government (Russia), without notifying the Attorney General, and conspiracy to do the same.
US officials warn NATO members against Huawei Press TV 15 Feb 2020 -- US officials have once more expressed concerns about the Chinese mobile company Huawei, warning that the tech giant posed a serious threat to NATO.
Yemeni Interior Ministry breaks up two Saudi, Emirati spy rings Press TV 15 Feb 2020 -- Yemen's Interior Ministry says it has separately broken up two spy rings operating for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and arrested a number of professional spies.
China rejects Pompeo's remarks about Chinese infiltration into US government Press TV 14 Feb 2020 -- China's Foreign Ministry has rejected recent remarks by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, calling on Washington to stop slandering China's political system.
US accuses Chinese tech giant Huawei of stealing trade secrets Press TV 14 Feb 2020 -- The US Justice Department has filed more charges against Huawei, accusing the Chinese tech giant of a "decades-long" effort to steal trade secrets from American companies, escalating the US battle with the world's largest telecommunications equipment maker.
U.S. Accuses China's Huawei Of Helping Iran Track Protesters RFE/RL 14 Feb 2020 -- The U.S. Justice Department has accused Huawei Technologies of helping Iran track protesters in its latest indictment against the Chinese tech giant as Washington steps up pressure on the world's largest telecommunications equipment maker.
Trump Says May End Practice Of Having Aides Listen In On Calls With Foreign Leaders RFE/RL 14 Feb 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump says he is considering ending the long-standing practice of having other government officials listen in on calls with foreign leaders.
Chinese Telecommunications Conglomerate Huawei and Subsidiaries Charged in Racketeering Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Steal Trade Secrets US Dept. of Justice 13 Feb 2020 -- A superseding indictment was returned yesterday in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, charging Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. (Huawei), the world's largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer, and two U.S. subsidiaries with conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
Chinese military never engages in cyber espionage: Defense Spokesperson PLA Daily 13 Feb 2020 -- "The Chinese military has never engaged in any form of cyber theft. The US accusation is groundless and totally hegemonic," said Senior Colonel Wuqian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, in a written statement published on Thursday.
China Under Xi Jinping is a 'Dystopian Digital Surveillance State': Rights Group Radio Free Asia 13 Feb 2020 -- Chinese president Xi Jinping is building a "dystopian digital surveillance state" to promote his brand of totalitarian rule, according to a recent report by a human rights group.
Department of Defense Releases 2021 Military Intelligence Program Budget Request DoD 11 Feb 2020 -- The Department of Defense released today the Military Intelligence Program (MIP) top line budget request for Fiscal Year 2021. The total, which includes both the base budget and Overseas Contingency Operations funding, is $23.1 billion and is aligned to support the 2018 National Defense Strategy.
American Businessman Who Ran Houston-Based Subsidiary of Chinese Company Sentenced to Prison for Theft of Trade Secrets US Dept. of Justice 11 Feb 2020 -- The head of a Houston-based company that was the subsidiary of a Chinese company that developed stolen trade secrets was sentenced to 16 months in prison and ordered to forfeit more than $330,000 by U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper of the District of Columbia.
Report: Russian Couple Faces Charges For Wedding Photos That Include FSB Officer RFE/RL 11 Feb 2020 -- A Russian newspaper says that a married couple faces criminal charges for photographs taken at their wedding five years ago and published online that reveal the identity of a counterintelligence officer with Russia's main security agency.
Chinese Military Personnel Charged with Computer Fraud, Economic Espionage and Wire Fraud for Hacking into Credit Reporting Agency Equifax US Dept. of Justice 10 Feb 2020 -- Indictment Alleges Four Members of China's People's Liberation Army Engaged in a Three-Month Long Campaign to Steal Sensitive Personal Information of Nearly 150 Million Americans
Attorney General William P. Barr Announces Indictment of Four Members of China's Military for Hacking into Equifax US Dept. of Justice 10 Feb 2020
US Charges Chinese Military Officers With 2017 Equifax Hack VOA 10 Feb 2020 -- Four members of the Chinese military have been charged with hacking U.S. credit reporting giant Equifax in 2017 and stealing the personal data of nearly half of all Americans, U.S. law enforcement officials announced on Monday.
High-Tech Spy Games Have US Revamping Its Strategy VOA 10 Feb 2020 -- Rapidly advancing technology and an explosion of new adversaries is forcing the United States to change the way it is fighting back.
Senate Intel Releases Bipartisan Report on Obama Admin Response to Russian Election Interference Senate Select Committee on Intelligence 06 Feb 2020 -- "Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) and Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) today released the third volume in the Committee's bipartisan investigation into Russian election interference, "U.S. Government Response to Russian Activities." The report examines the Obama Administration's reaction to initial reports of election interference and the steps officials took or did not take to deter Russia's activities."
'milDrive' offers DoD more secure cloud storage solution Army News 06 Feb 2020 -- The Defense Information Systems Agency has been offering "milDrive," a cloud-based storage solution for desktop users, for nearly a year.
FBI: Russia engaged in 'information warfare' ahead of 2020 presidential election Press TV 06 Feb 2020 -- The FBI has accused Russia of being engaged in "information warfare" heading into the 2020 presidential election, repeating allegations that Moscow conducted a "cyberattack on election infrastructure" in 2016 presidential vote.
FBI Chief Says Russia's 'Information Warfare' Against U.S. Has Not Eased RFE/RL 06 Feb 2020 -- The chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says Russia is conducting an "information warfare" operation against the United States ahead of the 2020 presidential election, although he says he has not seen signs that Russian actors have attempted to breach election infrastructure.
US Prosecutors Eye Uptick In Chinese Economic Espionage Cases VOA 06 Feb 2020 -- The FBI is conducting roughly 1,000 investigations into suspected Chinese theft of U.S. intellectual property, with many expected to result in criminal charges against individuals and companies later in the year, U.S. law enforcement officials said Thursday.
FBI Says China 'Biggest Threat' to US Law Enforcement as Arrests Skyrocket in 2020 Radio Free Asia 06 Feb 2020 -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has already arrested nearly 80 percent of the total number of arrests it made in China-related cases this year as it did in all of 2019, officials said Thursday, identifying the Asian superpower as the biggest law enforcement threat to the U.S.
Morocco's military takes delivery of 3 Israeli-made Heron reconnaissance drones: Report Press TV 04 Feb 2020 -- The Moroccan military has reportedly received three Israeli-made and long-endurance Heron unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as the Northern African country maintains informal but close intelligence ties with the Tel Aviv regime.
CIA spy in Iran sentenced to death: Judiciary Spox IRNA 04 Feb 2020 -- Iran's Judiciary spokesman said on Tuesday that the spy who had passed Iran's nuclear information to the Central Intelligence Agency of the US (CIA) is sentenced to death.
CIA spy sentenced to death ISNA 04 Feb 2020 -- "Amir Rahimpour, a CIA spy who was trying to pass on Iran's nuclear information to US, is sentenced to death," Iran's Judiciary spokesman, Gholamhossein Esmaili said on Tuesday.
Iran's judiciary sentences "CIA spy" to death: spokesman People's Daily 04 Feb 2020 -- Iran's Judiciary spokesman Gholam Hossein Esmaili said Tuesday that the country's Supreme Court has approved the death sentence of an Iranian who was spying for the United States, semi-official Fars news agency reported.
Iran's top court upholds death sentence for CIA spy Press TV 04 Feb 2020 -- Iran's Judiciary says the Supreme Court has upheld a death sentence issued against an Iranian individual convicted of committing espionage for the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
One Person In Iran Sentenced To Death, Two Others To Prison For Spying For CIA RFE/RL 04 Feb 2020 -- One person was sentenced to death and two more people were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for spying for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, a spokesman for Iran's judiciary said on February 4.
Denmark, Netherlands summon Saudi ambassadors over espionage activities Press TV 04 Feb 2020 -- The Danish and Dutch governments have summoned the Saudi ambassadors to Copenhagen and Stockholm, respectively, in order to express their official protest after arresting and charging four terrorists for spying on behalf of the kingdom in the two European states.
DOJ acknowledges emails showing details of Trump's thinking on Ukraine aid freeze Press TV 02 Feb 2020 -- The US Justice Department has revealed the existence of two dozen emails shielded from Congress that detailed President Donald Trump's decision-making regarding the withholding of military assistance to Ukraine.
Denmark Arrests Three Iranians Accused Of Spying For Saudi Arabia RFE/RL 03 Feb 2020 -- The Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) says it has arrested and charged three members of an Iranian secessionist movement on suspicion of spying for Saudi Arabia in Denmark.

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