State Dept. Employee Busted: Spied for China, Took Bribes

WASHINGTON D.C. – Candace Marie Claiborne, 60, of Washington, D.C., a U.S. Department of State employee, is facing federal charges for allegedly betraying her country and lining her pockets with foreign cash. Claiborne was arrested on March 28, 2017, and charged with obstructing an official proceeding and making false statements to the FBI – both felony offenses – after investigators uncovered a years-long pattern of concealed contacts with Chinese intelligence agents.

The case, announced today by Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Mary B. McCord, U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips of the District of Columbia, and FBI Assistant Director in Charge Andrew Vale, paints a damning picture of a seasoned diplomat allegedly using her Top Secret security clearance for personal gain. McCord stated Claiborne “failed to report her contacts with Chinese foreign intelligence agents who provided her with thousands of dollars of gifts and benefits.” The feds claim Claiborne exploited her position and access to sensitive diplomatic data to enrich herself.

According to the affidavit supporting the complaint, Claiborne has been with the State Department since 1999, serving in high-risk posts like Baghdad, Iraq; Khartoum, Sudan; and Beijing and Shanghai, China. As a condition of her employment, she was obligated to report any contact with suspected foreign intelligence operatives. But the affidavit alleges she systematically failed to do so, maintaining secret relationships with two agents of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for over five years. During that time, the agents allegedly showered her and her family with a staggering array of gifts.

We’re talking about more than just trinkets. The affidavit details tens of thousands of dollars wired into Claiborne’s USAA account, an Apple iPhone and laptop computer, Chinese New Year’s gifts, lavish meals, international travel and vacations, tuition at a Chinese fashion school, a fully furnished apartment, and even a monthly stipend. Some of these benefits were delivered directly to Claiborne, while others were funneled through a co-conspirator, according to investigators. Disturbingly, Claiborne allegedly even documented her scheme in a personal journal, noting she could “Generate 20k in 1 year” through her illicit dealings.

U.S. Attorney Phillips emphasized the seriousness of the betrayal, stating Claiborne “received training and briefing about the need for caution and transparency” but chose to ignore it. “This case demonstrates that U.S. government employees will be held accountable for failing to honor the trust placed in them when they take on such sensitive assignments,” he said. FBI Assistant Director in Charge Vale added that Claiborne “violated her oath of office” and “purposefully mislead federal investigators” about her extensive interactions with foreign contacts.

The investigation remains ongoing, and federal authorities are refusing to rule out the possibility of additional charges or co-conspirators. This case serves as a stark reminder that even those entrusted with the nation’s most sensitive secrets are not immune to corruption and foreign influence. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and bring you the unvarnished truth as it unfolds. Claiborne made her initial appearance in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia today. No trial date has been set.