DATE=8/26/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=CHINA SPIES
NUMBER=5-44141
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: It has been several months since allegations
first surfaced of Chinese espionage at American
nuclear weapons laboratories. V-O-A's Paula Wolfson
reports the story is taking a series of strange and
perhaps unexpected twists and turns.
TEXT: At first it sounded like the plot of a spy
novel. There were indications China stole secrets,
and there appeared to be a suspect: a Taiwanese-born
American scientist.
But the researcher - Wen Ho Lee - has not been charged
with espionage. And it is unclear if he will even
face the lesser charge of mishandling classified
information.
The result has been a test of wills involving those
most closely involved with the case. Some of the
investigators have complained the evidence against Wen
Ho Lee is largely circumstantial, and he may have been
singled out because he is of Chinese descent.
The man who triggered the inquiry thinks otherwise ---
and appears to have taken the investigators' comments
as a personal affront. This week Notra Trulock
resigned his post as the Energy Department Deputy
Director of Intelligence.
In an interview with the Washington Post, Mr. Trulock
complained he was phased out of the ongoing
investigation. He also took issue with the
Department's official report on the matter. That
report contradicted comments he made to Congress
earlier this year. During testimony before lawmakers,
Mr. Trulock said there was an effort by others within
the Energy Department to slow the investigation. The
report said the alleged interference never occurred
(Signed)
NEB/pgw/kl
26-Aug-1999 12:52 PM EDT (26-Aug-1999 1652 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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