Espionage in the White House – Phillipines Spy posed as Marine

Leandro Aragoncillo, a US Marine who was assigned to the staff of Vice President Cheney has been accused of spying for an opposition group in the Phillipines. Aragoncillo is a naturalized citizen, was hired by Vice President Gore in 2000. This is a security breach, but it is thought that the majority of the documents taken were concerning internal Phillipines issues.

From ABC News

Officials tell ABC News the alleged spy worked undetected at the White House for almost three years. Leandro Aragoncillo, 46, was a U.S. Marine most recently assigned to the staff of Vice President Dick Cheney.

“I don’t know of a case where the vetting broke down before and resulted in a spy being in the White House,” said Richard Clarke, a former White House advisor who is now an ABC News consultant.

Federal investigators say Aragoncillo, a naturalized citizen from the Philippines, used his top secret clearance to steal classified intelligence documents from White House computers.

In 2000, Aragoncillo worked on the staff of then-Vice President Al Gore. When interviewed by Philippine television, he remarked how valued Philippine employees were at the White House.

“I think what they like most is our integrity and loyalty,” Aragoncillo said.

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According to friends, in addition to his work for Cheney and Gore, Aragoncillo claimed he also worked with President Clinton and Condoleezza Rice when she was the national security advisor.