美国务院雇员因谎报收受中国人礼物被控罪

A long-time U.S. State Department employee has been arrested and charged with lying to investigators about numerous contacts and gifts she got from Chinese intelligence agents. The Justice Department says Candace Marie Claiborne pleaded not guilty before a federal judge.

Claiborne has been a State Department Office Management Specialist since 1999. She had a Top Secret security clearance and was posted to embassies and consulates in Baghdad, Khartoum, Shanghai and Beijing.

Prosecutors allege Chinese officials showered Claiborne with tens of thousands of dollars in gifts when she was there, including cash, computers, meals, travel and an apartment. Prosecutors say in exchange for cash, a Chinese intelligence agent asked Claiborne to provide internal U.S. government analysis of a U.S.-Chinese economic conference.

Clairborne is charged with failing to tell the FBI about her contacts with the Chinese agents -- a requirement of her Top Secret security clearance -- and obstructing what the Justice Department calls an "official proceeding."

Justice officials say Claiborne "used her position and her access to sensitive diplomatic data for personal profit" and say U.S. employees will be held accountable if they fail to honor the trust placed in them. Claiborne faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

Acting State Department spokesman Mark Toner said, "When a public servant is suspected of potential misconduct or federal crimes that violate the public trust, we vigorously investigate such claims. The Department of State is firmly committed to investigating and working with the Department of Justice and our other law enforcement partners to investigate any allegations of criminal activity and bring those who commit crimes to justice."

在美国国务院长期工作的一名雇员被捕，并因没有如实向调查人员报告她从中国情报人员那里得到的一些联系人信息和礼物而受到起诉。美国司法部说，坎戴斯·玛丽·克莱本在联邦法官面前做出无罪申辩。

克莱本自1999年起担任国务院的办公室管理专家，她通过了最高级别的保密审查，先后被派往在巴格达、喀土穆、北京和上海等地的美国使领馆工作。

检方称，在克莱本驻中国时，中国官员送给她价值数万美元的礼物，包括现金、电脑、餐饮、旅游和一个公寓。检方说，做为交换，一名中国情报人员要求克莱本提供美国政府对美中战略经济对话的内部分析报告。

克莱本受到起诉的罪名包括没有告知联邦调查局她与中国情报人员的联系，而这是她的最高级别保密审查所要求的，因此阻碍了司法部所称的“正式程序”。

司法部官员说，克莱本“利用自己的职务以及能够得到敏感外交数据的便利换取个人利益”，并说美国雇员如果违反了给与他们的信任，就将被追究责任。如果被定罪，克莱本将面临最多25年的监禁。

美国国务院代理发言人托纳说：“当公职人员做出涉嫌违反公众信任的潜在不当行为或触犯联邦法律时，我们大力调查此类案件，国务院坚定地致力于与司法部和我们的其他执法合作伙伴进行调查和工作，调查任何关于犯罪活动的指控，并将罪犯绳之以法。”