FBI accuses US State Department official of contacts with Chinese spies
April 3, 2017
A U.S. State Department employee with access to sensitive information was accused of failing to report contacts with Chinese foreign intelligence agents who provided her with gifts in exchange for diplomatic and economic information, federal prosecutors said, quoted by Reuters. “When a public servant is suspected of potential misconduct or federal crimes that violate the public trust, we vigorously investigate such claims”said State Department spokesman Mark Toner. Asked about the case at a regular news briefing on Thursday, Chinese Foreign ministry spokesman, Lu Kang, said he was unfamiliar with the situation. He did not elaborate. Claiborne, 60, “allegedly failed to report her contacts with Chinese foreign intelligence agents who provided her with thousands of dollars of gifts and benefits,” said U.S. Acting Assistant Attorney General Mary McCord.