US scientist offers state secrets
Source: Agencies |
October 21, 2009, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PROSECUTORS say a scientist who worked on the cutting edge of moon exploration has been caught trying to sell classified United States secrets to an FBI agent posing as an Israeli intelligence agent.
Stewart David Nozette, who is credited with helping discover evidence of water on the moon and has been a leader in recent lunar exploration work, was arrested on Monday and charged in a criminal complaint with attempting to communicate, deliver and transmit classified information, the Justice Department said.
Nozette, 52, is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court in Washington this week. Law enforcement officials said Nozette did not immediately have a lawyer.
Nozette worked in various jobs for the Energy Department and NASA. In 1989-1990 he worked for the White House's National Space Council.
He developed the Clementine bi-static radar experiment that is credited with discovering water on the south pole of the moon. He also worked at the Energy Department's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where he designed highly advanced technology, from about 1990 to 1999.
At Energy, Nozette held a special security clearance equivalent to the Defense Department's top secret and "critical nuclear weapon design information" clearances.
Nozette also held top offices at the Alliance for Competitive Technology, a nonprofit corporation that he organized. Between January 2000 and February 2006, Nozette, through his company, had several agreements to develop advanced technology for the US government.
To build a case against Nozette, FBI agents posed as officers of the Israeli intelligence service Mossad.
Nozette allegedly offered to reveal additional classified information that directly concerned nuclear weaponry, military spacecraft or satellites, and other major weapons systems.
The Israeli daily Haaretz reported yesterday that Nozette had past business dealings with Israel Aerospace Industries, a government-owned defense contractor. IAI declined to comment.
Stewart David Nozette, who is credited with helping discover evidence of water on the moon and has been a leader in recent lunar exploration work, was arrested on Monday and charged in a criminal complaint with attempting to communicate, deliver and transmit classified information, the Justice Department said.
Nozette, 52, is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court in Washington this week. Law enforcement officials said Nozette did not immediately have a lawyer.
Nozette worked in various jobs for the Energy Department and NASA. In 1989-1990 he worked for the White House's National Space Council.
He developed the Clementine bi-static radar experiment that is credited with discovering water on the south pole of the moon. He also worked at the Energy Department's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where he designed highly advanced technology, from about 1990 to 1999.
At Energy, Nozette held a special security clearance equivalent to the Defense Department's top secret and "critical nuclear weapon design information" clearances.
Nozette also held top offices at the Alliance for Competitive Technology, a nonprofit corporation that he organized. Between January 2000 and February 2006, Nozette, through his company, had several agreements to develop advanced technology for the US government.
To build a case against Nozette, FBI agents posed as officers of the Israeli intelligence service Mossad.
Nozette allegedly offered to reveal additional classified information that directly concerned nuclear weaponry, military spacecraft or satellites, and other major weapons systems.
The Israeli daily Haaretz reported yesterday that Nozette had past business dealings with Israel Aerospace Industries, a government-owned defense contractor. IAI declined to comment.
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