Former White House official and CIA analyst is indicted for acting as a South Korea agent in return for Louis Vuitton handbags, Dolce and Gabbana coat and dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants

A erstwhile White House and CIA charismatic has been indicted connected charges she worked arsenic an unregistered supplier of South Korea's authorities successful speech for luxury equipment and different gifts.

Sue Mi Terry advocated South Korean argumentation positions, disclosed nonpublic U.S. authorities accusation to South Korean intelligence officers, and facilitated entree for South Korean authorities officials to their U.S. counterparts, according to an indictment made nationalist connected Tuesday successful Manhattan national court.

In return, nan South Korean intelligence officers allegedly provided Terry pinch Bottega Veneta and Louis Vuitton handbags, a Dolce & Gabbana coat, dinners astatine Michelin-starred restaurants, and much than $37,000 successful 'covert' backing for a nationalist argumentation programme connected Korean affairs that she ran.

Terry's alleged activity arsenic an supplier began successful 2013, 2 years aft she near U.S. authorities employment, and lasted a decade.

She is now a senior chap astatine nan Council connected Foreign Relations, according to nan deliberation tank's website, and an master connected East Asia and nan Korean Peninsula, including North Korea.

Terry did not instantly respond to a petition for remark but her lawyer, Lee Wolosky, denied nan charges successful a statement. 

'These allegations are unfounded and distort nan activity of a clever clever and news expert known for her independency and years of work to nan United States.'

'In fact, she was a harsh professional of nan South Korean authorities during times this indictment alleges that she was acting connected its behalf.'

'Once nan facts are made clear it will beryllium evident nan authorities made a important mistake,' he added.

The Council connected Foreign Relations put Terry connected unpaid administrative leave, and will cooperate pinch immoderate investigation, a spokeswoman said.

South Korea is not a defendant. Its Washington embassy did not instantly respond to requests for comment. 

The agency of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams successful Manhattan did not instantly respond to akin requests.

According to Terry's online biography, she is simply a predominant impermanent connected TV, power and podcasts, and has testified aggregate times earlier Congressional panels.

Born successful Seoul and raised successful Virginia, Terry was a elder CIA expert from 2001 to 2008, and head of Korean, Japan and Oceanic Affairs astatine nan NSC from 2008 to 2009 nether Republican President George W. Bush and Democratic President Barack Obama.

She now lives successful New York, her curriculum vitae says.

The indictment charges Terry pinch failing to registry nether nan Foreign Agents Registration Act, and colluding to break that law.

It says she acknowledged successful a voluntary June 2023 FBI question and reply that she was a 'source' for South Korea's intelligence service, 'meaning that she provided valuable information.'