US Halts Prosecution of Ex-CIA Analyst Accused of Aiding South Korean Intelligence
The Justice Department has agreed to drop charges against Sue Mi Terry after a year-long deferral, provided she avoids further legal trouble.
The U.S. Justice Department has agreed not to prosecute a former CIA analyst, Sue Mi Terry, who was accused of acting as a secret agent for South Korea’s intelligence service. The agreement, detailed in court documents filed Tuesday, will put the prosecution on hold for one year, after which charges will be dropped if Terry remains out of legal trouble.
Terry had been scheduled to stand trial in Manhattan federal court on charges of acting as an unregistered foreign agent. Federal prosecutors had alleged that she shared nonpublic government information, facilitated access for South Korean officials to U.S. officials, and accepted luxury gifts in exchange for advocating South Korean government positions during media appearances.
Prosecutors did not specify the reason for deferring the prosecution, stating only that it would best serve the interests of both Terry and the U.S. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Terry has maintained her innocence. Her attorney, Lee Wolosky, stated that Terry had served her country loyally for many years and expressed satisfaction with the outcome. He added that Terry's interactions with South Korean officials were conducted in furtherance of U.S. interests and her work as a specialist on North Korea and East Asia.
As part of the deal, Terry acknowledged sharing notes from a 2022 meeting with then-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken with a South Korean intelligence officer. She also acknowledged accepting designer handbags and coats from South Korea's intelligence service, valued at approximately $9,245, for her work.