Former FBI analyst faces up to 20 years in prison in spy plot

[Robbien]

Source: By Associated Press

Leandro Aragoncillo, 48, who worked as a military aide to vice presidents Al Gore and Dick Cheney before joining the FBI as a civilian employee at Fort Monmouth, pleaded in 2006 to four charges. The most serious charge, conspiracy to transmit national defense information, can carry the death penalty, but under his plea agreement, Aragoncillo instead faces 15 to 20 years in prison.

. . .

The plot involved the theft of classified national defense documents from the White House and the FBI.

Aquino, 41, admitted possessing secret documents containing information on the United States' confidential intelligence sources and methods, as well as information on terrorist threats to U.S. military personnel in the Philippines.

. . .

Prosecutors said Aragoncillo was recruited in 2000 by opposition forces and began working with Aquino in early 2005. Aragoncillo, a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in the Philippines, admitted passing information to Aquino and opposition politicians in his homeland who wanted to oust Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Aquino was once a senior officer under Lacson in the Philippines National Police. He fled to the United States to escape murder charges in 2001 and lived with his wife and son in New York City. After serving his prison term, he is likely to be deported.

Read more: http://www.komotv.com/news/national/8571562.html

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The articles on this case all carefully make sure that they state the man worked for both Gore and Cheney. But they also carefully make sure they don't say that the man left his job in Cheney's office and directly went to the Philippines, which is what he did. In the Philippines the man used documents from Cheney's office to attempt to overthrow Arroyo. He was tried for stealing the documents.



Of course he did this on his own. Of course. Don't anyone dare look over there at the fact that Cheney/Bush are not supportive of the Arroyo administration.

[struggle4progress]

1. Cheney's office and classified information: the saga continues

Outing CIA agents? A mysterious new branch of government? A nest of spies?

Who knows what tomorrow may bring?

Stayed tuned and remember to let Congress and your local media know what you are thinking!

:kick:

[struggle4progress]

2. Ex-FBI analyst gets 10 years in spy plot

~snip~ On Tuesday, Walls sentenced a coconspirator, Michael Ray Aquino, to six years and four months in prison. Aquino, 41, was a former Philippine National Police officer who pleaded guilty in July 2006 in a deal that spared him a life term had he been convicted of espionage.

Prosecutors said Aragoncillo, who entered the vice president's office in 1999, was recruited in 2000 by opposition forces and began working with Aquino in early 2005.

Aragoncillo admitted passing information to Aquino and opposition politicians in the Philippines who wanted to oust the Philippine president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Recipients included former president Joseph Estrada, who was ousted six years ago; Panfilo Lacson, an opposition senator; and former House speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella, according to court documents. ~snip~

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/07/19/ex_fbi_analyst_gets_10_years_in_spy_plot/

[struggle4progress]

3. Ex-Cheney aide gets 10 years in prison in spy case

Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:07PM EDT

~snip~ Prosecutors told the court Aragoncillo used a fax machine in Cheney's office to send documents to the Philippines. They said up to 800 classified documents had been compromised by Aragoncillo, as well as the name of a U.S. government source. ~snip~

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1835053120070718

[struggle4progress]

4. What secrets CAN Cheney's office protect? The visitor logs!

July 12, 2007

David S. Addington
Chief of Staff
Office of the Vice President
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
Washington, DC 20501

Dear Mr. Addington,

It has come to my attention that there is another issue with regards to record keeping in the Office of the Vice President which causes me great concern. It has been widely reported that an attorney from your office by the name of Shannen Coffin sent a letter in September of 2006 to the Secret Service claiming exclusive control over the visitor logs from the Office of the Vice President. The letter also requested that the Secret Service return all visitors logs in their possession.

The basis of the claim by the Office of the Vice President was that the visitor logs fell under the Presidential Records Act and are therefore privileged until the administration of President Bush is no longer in office. This classification also shields the logs from the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) even though they are created by and cast light on the activities of the Secret Service, an executive branch agency. As you undoubtedly are aware, it was a FOIA request from the Washington Post that initiated the letter from the Office of the Vice President which has only now come to light though court documents.

The contention that visitor logs fall under the Presidential Records Act is just one in a series of assertions from the Vice President and his staff that serve to undermine accountability and transparency with regard to the Office of the Vice President. As you know, I have previously corresponded with you in reference to the Vice President’s statement that he is not subject to Executive Order 12958 because of the legislative function of his position. This new assertion seems to be in direct conflict with those statements.

A claim that the Vice President is not subject to Executive Orders, but is covered by the Presidential Records Act - which applies exclusively to the executive branch - strikes me as incongruous and inappropriate. For that reason, I respectfully request answers to the following questions:

(1) Who authorized the letter to the Secret Service?

(2) On what basis is the Vice President claiming refuge under the Presidential Records Act?

(3) Did the Office of the Vice President consult with the Justice Department or the National Archives on this matter? If so, what counsel did they receive?

I never received a reply to my letter to you dated June 26th. I will assume that the White House has spoken for your office when they asserted that the Office of the Vice President does indeed fall under the executive branch. I do however expect a reply to this inquiry. A response would be appreciated by July 23rd. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

John Kerry

http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48727218_dick_cheney_john_kerry_sealing_dick_cheney_visitor_logs_latest_attempt_dodge_transparency