Former CIA analyst indicted for allegedly working as unregistered agent for South Korea
A former CIA analyst, Sue Mi Terry, has been indicted on charges of acting as an unregistered agent of the South Korean government. The charges allege that Terry received luxuries and other gifts in exchange for providing information. She also served on the White House National Security Council (NSC).
Details of the indictment
According to the indictment, Terry advocated for South Korean policy positions, disclosed nonpublic U.S. government information to South Korean intelligence officers, and facilitated access for South Korean officials to their U.S. counterparts. The indictment was unsealed on July 16 in a Manhattan federal court.
Terry is also charged with failing to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
Allegations of luxury rewards
South Korean intelligence officers allegedly rewarded Terry with luxury items, including Bottega Veneta and Louis Vuitton handbags and a Dolce & Gabbana coat. She also reportedly dined at Michelin-starred restaurants and received $37,000 in covert funding for a public policy program on Korean affairs.
The indictment claims that Terry began her activities as a South Korean agent in 2013, two years after leaving U.S. government employment.
Legal response
Terry’s lawyer, Lee Wolosky, has dismissed the allegations. “These allegations are unfounded and distort the work of a scholar and news analyst known for her independence and years of service to the United States,” Wolosky said in a statement.
“These allegations are unfounded and distort the work of a scholar and news analyst known for her independence and years of service to the United States,” Terry’s lawyer, Lee Wolosky, said in a statement.
“In fact, she was a harsh critic of the South Korean government during times this indictment alleges that she was acting on its behalf. Once the facts are made clear it will be evident that the government made a significant mistake,” he added.
Neither the South Korean embassy in Washington nor Terry has commented on the matter.
Background
Born in Seoul and raised in Virginia, Sue Mi Terry is a frequent guest on TV, radio, and podcasts. She has testified multiple times before Congressional panels. Terry served as a senior CIA analyst from 2001 to 2008 and as director of Korean, Japan, and Oceanic Affairs at the NSC from 2008 to 2009, under both Republican President George W. Bush and Democratic President Barack Obama.