US colonel charged with giving security secrets to Chinese girlfriend
An American defence contractor has been charged with giving national security secrets to his younger Chinese girlfriend.
US Attorney Florence Nakakuni said Bishop had been charged with giving defence secrets to his Chinese lover
Benjamin Pierce Bishop, 59, stationed at the US Pacific Command in Hawaii, was arrested on Friday on allegations that he had sent his 27-year-old girlfriend, identified as "Person 1", highly sensitive information about US defence.
The classified information allegedly included details, sent to the woman via email, on nuclear weapons and US relations with international partners.
Mr Bishop was also accused of giving the woman information about America's ability to detect foreign governments' low- and medium-range ballistic missiles, the use of US early warning radar systems in the Pacific Rim, and the planned deployment of US strategic nuclear systems.
He is charged with one count of wilfully communicating national defence information to a person not entitled to receive it, and one count of unlawfully retaining documents related to national defence.
If he is convicted he could face a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Mr Bishop was working as a civilian defence contractor, though it is not known at which organisation.
The couple met at a conference about international military defence issues and began an intimate romantic relationship in July 2011.
Although Mr Bishop has had top secret security clearance since July 2002, his girlfriend had no clearance. He allegedly hid their relationship from his employers, despite his position and security clearance requiring him to report and contact with foreign nationals.
In November 2012, a court authorised search of his home found twelve documents all classified as "secret.
According to the affidavit, the woman asked Mr Bishop what Western countries knew about the "operation of a particular naval asset of People's Republic of China". Mr Bishop researched the issue, which was not part of his mandate, and was seen reading and collecting classified information, according to the claims.
Mr Bishop's court appointed lawyer, Birney Berver, stated, "Colonel Bishop has served his country for 29 years. He would never do anything to harm the United States".
Mr Berver said the man was a lieutenant colonel in the US Army Reserve.
A preliminary court hearing has been scheduled for 1st April and Mr Bishop is due to appear in court again later this week for a bail hearing.
China and the United States, the world's two largest economies, have long engaged in spying against each other.
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