Amid a web of suspicion, an agent's career is ruined

[Sequoia]

When a high-profile sex-and-spy scandal touched the FBI's Los Angeles China Squad, a prized investigator became collateral damage.

By H.G. Reza, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
September 14, 2007

The two male agents pictured with Rita Chiang in the FBI poster were smiling, but her stare left no doubt that she was all business. Chiang was a recruiting magnet for the FBI, but it was her skill as an investigator that got her noticed.

The photo appeared in magazines and on billboards throughout the country in the 1990s, the picture cropped so tightly that only a sliver of her face could be seen. Anonymity was an asset in her job, where she matched wits with agents from the People's Republic of China in the furtive world of counterintelligence.

But on Jan. 14, 2002, Chiang was stripped of her badge and gun and escorted out of the West Los Angeles office. FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III suspected that she was a mole for Chinese intelligence and ordered her suspended with pay while she was investigated.

Chiang was later cleared when her boss was identified as the security leak, but she contends that by then her reputation was ruined and her career derailed. She filed a discrimination suit against the agency, but it was tossed out of court. The case is on appeal, but her lawyer concedes it has been all but impossible to overcome the FBI's position that her case -- if it went to trial -- could jeopardize national security.



http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-agent14sep14,0,2647873.story?coll=la-home-local

She can't even go to court on this. I hope she writes a book.

[acmavm]

1. These people sure like 'outing' female agents, don't they?

[hootinholler]

2. It worked so well in keeping Sibel under control.

Why not play it again?

This sickens me and there is no help in the legislature.

-Hoot

[lyonn]

3. So, her boss ends up being the leaker, wow

Sure don't want to jeopardize national security! There is no way no one can fight the old "jeopardize national security" when they need/want info as to what our govt. is doing.

When the Dems put out subpoenas the WH shouts, "National Security" info, can't give it to ya. We are in a lock-down situation folks.