https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46757119
According to the Russian authorities, he is a US spy. According to his family, he is simply a man who wanted to attend a friend's wedding.
So what do we know about Paul Whelan, the 48-year-old who could face years in prison after being arrested in Moscow on suspicion of spying last month?
=============================================
A former cop & IT manager for Kelly Services, he served in the Marines & did 2 tours in Iraq. He was dishonorably discharged for writing bad checks & using a bogus SSN. He returned to Kelly Services being promoted to senior manager of global security and investigations in 2010. From their he moved to BorgWarner, who produce automotive parts. He was a Russophile & traveled often to Russia where he had set up a social media account. He had been caught receiving a digital storage device containing a list of intelligence officials & is charged with espionage.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46757119
According to the Russian authorities, he is a US spy. According to his family, he is simply a man who wanted to attend a friend's wedding.
So what do we know about Paul Whelan, the 48-year-old who could face years in prison after being arrested in Moscow on suspicion of spying last month?
=============================================
A former cop & IT manager for Kelly Services, he served in the Marines & did 2 tours in Iraq. He was dishonorably discharged for writing bad checks & using a bogus SSN. He returned to Kelly Services being promoted to senior manager of global security and investigations in 2010. From their he moved to BorgWarner, who produce automotive parts. He was a Russophile & traveled often to Russia where he had set up a social media account. He had been caught receiving a digital storage device containing a list of intelligence officials & is charged with espionage.
Hard to tell, his record would indicate he might be "capable" of what they said but given the timing and the fact Russia isn't exactly known for being the bastion of fair justice or the truth I would still give him the benefit of the doubt and say he is innocent until proven guilty.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46757119
According to the Russian authorities, he is a US spy. According to his family, he is simply a man who wanted to attend a friend's wedding.
So what do we know about Paul Whelan, the 48-year-old who could face years in prison after being arrested in Moscow on suspicion of spying last month?
=============================================
A former cop & IT manager for Kelly Services, he served in the Marines & did 2 tours in Iraq. He was dishonorably discharged for writing bad checks & using a bogus SSN. He returned to Kelly Services being promoted to senior manager of global security and investigations in 2010. From their he moved to BorgWarner, who produce automotive parts. He was a Russophile & traveled often to Russia where he had set up a social media account. He had been caught receiving a digital storage device containing a list of intelligence officials & is charged with espionage.
It's long been my anecdotally obtained understanding that his criminal record would have disqualified him from being hired by the CIA, DIA, and other "alphabet soup" intel organizations of the US government. I never had a reason to question or care about the veracity of what I'd been told; however, given the Whelan matter's notoriety, I bothered to determine whether a cursory Googling might reveal info that corroborates what I'd heard.
Lo and behold, in mere seconds I came upon several sources that confirm what I'd been told. Per Ron Patrick, the CIA’s head of recruitment, "One thing we can’t get past is if the applicant is a convicted felon. Even if they have been out of jail for five to ten years, it doesn’t matter." Also, in "Can You Work for the CIA if You've Been Arrested?", Neil Kokemuller, describing "integrity considerations" the CIA factors into its hiring decisions, writes:It is noted in the agency's application process that the type of activity, seriousness and recency of illegal or unethical behaviors will be considered in evaluating your application. In essence, a 10-year old arrest for a simple misdemeanor may not preclude you from acceptance. However, it is specifically noted that illegal drug use in the last 12 months would certainly lead to denial of security clearance. Other felonies and recent arrests would likely cause a similar fate.Does that mean Whelan absolutely couldn't have been knowingly performing some sort of spying activity, perhaps as a asset rather than as an agent? I suppose not. Intel organizations have very different "guidelines" about whom they will use as information conduits than they have for whom they'll hire. That is to say, they're unlikely to forswear availing themselves of opportunities when/where they present themselves.
Red:
That is what the Russians allege. I really can't say whether that is a truthful claim. I'm sure relevant individuals in the USIC know whether that claim has any likelihood of being true; however:
Accordingly, I see little point in sifting through the details of the matter and their veracity. I'll just have to wait and see what be the outcome.
- if it is a true claim, the USIC is going to deny that it because it's classified,
- if it's not true the USIC is going deny it because it is in fact not true, and
- either way, it's not as though the Russians and Putin's government are the most honorable and truthful folks one might come by.
It's long been my anecdotally obtained understanding that his criminal record would have disqualified him from being hired by the CIA, DIA, and other "alphabet soup" intel organizations of the US government. I never had a reason to question or care about the veracity of what I'd been told; however, given the Whelan matter's notoriety, I bothered to determine whether a cursory Googling might reveal info that corroborates what I'd heard.
Lo and behold, in mere seconds I came upon several sources that confirm what I'd been told. Per Ron Patrick, the CIA’s head of recruitment, "One thing we can’t get past is if the applicant is a convicted felon. Even if they have been out of jail for five to ten years, it doesn’t matter." Also, in "Can You Work for the CIA if You've Been Arrested?", Neil Kokemuller, describing "integrity considerations" the CIA factors into its hiring decisions, writes:It is noted in the agency's application process that the type of activity, seriousness and recency of illegal or unethical behaviors will be considered in evaluating your application. In essence, a 10-year old arrest for a simple misdemeanor may not preclude you from acceptance. However, it is specifically noted that illegal drug use in the last 12 months would certainly lead to denial of security clearance. Other felonies and recent arrests would likely cause a similar fate.Does that mean Whelan absolutely couldn't have been knowingly performing some sort of spying activity, perhaps as a asset rather than as an agent? I suppose not. Intel organizations have very different "guidelines" about whom they will use as information conduits than they have for whom they'll hire. That is to say, they're unlikely to forswear availing themselves of opportunities when/where they present themselves.
Red:
That is what the Russians allege. I really can't say whether that is a truthful claim. I'm sure relevant individuals in the USIC know whether that claim has any likelihood of being true; however:
Accordingly, I see little point in sifting through the details of the matter and their veracity. I'll just have to wait and see what be the outcome.
- if it is a true claim, the USIC is going to deny that it because it's classified,
- if it's not true the USIC is going deny it because it is in fact not true, and
- either way, it's not as though the Russians and Putin's government are the most honorable and truthful folks one might come by.
Whelaan [is] fluent in Russian & had the right cover story. His elevation to top global security services at both Kelly & BW smells funny given his criminal record. I would not put it past the CIA to recruit Whelan & suspiciously provide him with the Kely/BW cover because his age & linguistic skills made him 'perfect' for this kind of spying.
The thing with the CIA and such intelligence agencies is that even if a requirement like that is written into law, ignoring that law would provide an even better cover story for someone. I'm sure have many ways of paying/supervising someone without making a record of it.
The thing with the CIA and such intelligence agencies is that even if a requirement like that is written into law, ignoring that law would provide an even better cover story for someone. I'm sure have many ways of paying/supervising someone without making a record of it.
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