Alleged White House spy caught

[Maeve_Mari]

Am I the first to hear about this? I wonder how the full story is going to play out.

Report: Alleged White House spy caught

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- An alleged spy worked at the White House for nearly three years, most recently on the staff of Vice President Dick Cheney, ABC News reported Wednesday.

Officials identified the alleged spy as Leandro Aragoncillo, 46, a former U.S. Marine, the network said.

ABC said the FBI caught Aragoncillo last year, after he left the Marines and began working for the FBI at an intelligence center at Fort Monmouth, N.J.

Federal investigators told ABC that Aragoncillo, a naturalized citizen from the Philippines, used his top secret clearance to steal classified intelligence documents from White House computers. The network quoted officials as saying Aragoncillo has confessed to stealing classified information from Cheney's office, including damaging dossiers on the president of the Philippines, which he allegedly passed on to opposition politicians planning a coup in the Philippines.

[L.O.A.S.]

Am I the first to hear about this? I wonder how the full story is going to play out.

I'd say ask that guy who like blue women. I'm sure he has dreams of this type scenarios all the time.

[Maeve_Mari]

Well, it's hitting the mainstream services now:
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=1188625&page=1

Oct. 6, 2005 — The discovery that a former White House staff member allegedly used his top secret clearance to steal classified intelligence documents indicates there are serious gaps in high-level White House security, a former White House counterterrorism expert says.

"What it means is that there is a hole in White House security," Richard Clarke, a former White House adviser who is now an ABC News consultant. "There are two kinds of people at the White House: Those that have been very well-vetted and those that have been extremely well-vetted and have access to the top secret computer network. This man had access to the top secret computer network."

Sources tell ABC News that Leandro Aragoncillo, a U.S. Marine most recently assigned to the staff of Vice President Dick Cheney, stole classified material from the vice president's office, included damaging dossiers on the president of the Philippines, and then passed them on to opposition politicians planning a coup in the Pacific nation. Sources said a former Philippine president has admitted that he received some information from the alleged spy. The case was first reported by ABC News Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross.

Aragoncillo, 46, worked undetected at the White House for almost three years. Both the FBI and CIA are calling it the first case of espionage within the White House in modern history. Federal investigators say Aragoncillo is a naturalized citizen from the Philippines. Aragoncillo worked at the White House from 1999 to 2001 and was assigned to the vice president's office under both Al Gore and Cheney.

Last year, after leaving the Marines, Aragoncillo was caught by the FBI while he worked for the bureau at an intelligence center at Fort Monmouth, N.J. Aragoncillo began sending classified information and documents in January while working at Fort Monmouth, according to an FBI complaint. From May to Aug. 15 of this year, the complaint said, he printed or downloaded 101 classified documents relating to the Philippines, of which 37 were classified "secret." He sent some of the material to Michael Ray Aquino, a former deputy director of the Philippines national police who lives in New York City, the complaint said.

[L.O.A.S.]

The main focus of the news story is about spying Leandro Aragoncillo may have done while working at the White House. He in fact is being indicted for stealing and distributing classified information he obtained while working for the FBI at an intelligence center in 2005. Real news or another witch hunt?

[Larrison]

The main focus of the news story is about spying Leandro Aragoncillo may have done while working at the White House. He in fact is being indicted for stealing and distributing classified information he obtained while working for the FBI at an intelligence center in 2005. Real news or another witch hunt?

Apparently he was assigned to the "Office of the Vice President", although I haven't seen anything about what his specific role was. He also worked for Al Gore when he was VP.

[Inquartata]

If he is found to be guilty, we need to employ the highest punishment for espionage and treason: death.

He certainly does not deserve to receive a Sandy Berger slap on the wrist.
( But then IMO neither did Sandy Berger. )

[Slim]

If he is found to be guilty, we need to employ the highest punishment for espionage and treason: death.

He certainly does not deserve to receive a Sandy Berger slap on the wrist.
( But then IMO neither did Sandy Berger. )

Absolutely. Especially during a time of war. There have been too many getting away with such actions for too long (and I do consider even a life prison sentence getting away with this type of crime). It's about time we get back to basics.

[Gav]

Especially during a time of war

Really? Who are you at war with?

[Mr Epee]

Really? Who are you at war with?

Usually drugs, but mostly terrists...

[keith]

Usually drugs, but mostly terrists...

and cancer, don't forget cancer.

[RITFencing]

Just about everything we don't like. Try and stop us! Mwahahaha!

[Slim]

Am I the first to hear about this? I wonder how the full story is going to play out.

Report: Alleged White House spy caught

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- An alleged spy worked at the White House for nearly three years, most recently on the staff of Vice President Dick Cheney, ABC News reported Wednesday.

Officials identified the alleged spy as Leandro Aragoncillo, 46, a former U.S. Marine, the network said.

This story (conveniently perhaps) left out that before he worked for Cheney, he was an intelligence analyst for VP Al Gore. It was during the time he working for Gore that he was recruited to spy.

[RITFencing]

This story (conveniently perhaps) left out that before he worked for Cheney, he was an intelligence analyst for VP Al Gore. It was during the time he working for Gore that he was recruited to spy.

How is that convenient?

[keith]

How is that convenient?

let me be the first to welcome another member of the great liberal conspiracy.

[RITFencing]

let me be the first to welcome another member of the great liberal conspiracy.

Liberal? You mistake me, sir. I'm with Dave Barry, I think the whole country is a competition between the left wing *ssholes and the right wing *ssholes to see who can be the bigger jerks.

[keith]

Liberal? You mistake me, sir. I'm with Dave Barry, I think the whole country is a competition between the left wing *ssholes and the right wing *ssholes to see who can be the bigger jerks.

no I'm afraid that if your not with us you're with them - its very simple really.

[RITFencing]

no I'm afraid that if your not with us you're with them - its very simple really.

But that's exactly what They told me. I'm apparently with both sides and neither. Very zen.

[YankeeRebel]

But that's exactly what They told me. I'm apparently with both sides and neither. Very zen.

Very zen indeed

[Larrison]

no I'm afraid that if your not with us you're with them - its very simple really.

Considering I consider both extremes of the political fence to be idiots...

I don't think I want to be associated with either...

[keith]

Considering I consider both extremes of the political fence to be idiots...

I don't think I want to be associated with either...

well this is a fine attitude except of course that when the revolution comes you will be the first against the wall (regardless of who does the revolting )