Former CIA Official Sue Mi Terry Arrested for Violating Foreign Agents Registration Act

By Jessica Scipio

July 17, 2024

1:45 PM

Arrest and Indictment

Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Christie M. Curtis, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), have announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging Sue Mi Terry with violations under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Terry was apprehended on July 16, 2024, in New York City and subsequently presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger. The case is now assigned to U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield.

Statement from U.S. Attorney Damian Williams

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated, “As alleged, Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA and White House employee, circumvented foreign agent registration laws to provide South Korean intelligence officers with access, information, and advocacy. Terry allegedly leveraged her positions and influence in exchange for luxury handbags, expensive meals, and significant funding for her public policy program. The charges brought forth should serve as a stark reminder to those in public policy positions to adhere strictly to legal requirements and avoid illicit engagements with foreign governments.”

FBI’s Response and National Security Implications

FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Christie M. Curtis remarked, “Compromising national security poses a grave risk to every American by weakening our defenses and endangering lives. Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA and White House official, is accused of acting as an unregistered agent for South Korea. Over a decade, despite repeated warnings, Terry allegedly used her think tank roles to further a foreign agenda. Her actions, as alleged, involved disclosing sensitive U.S. government information to South Korean intelligence and influencing U.S. policy in favor of South Korea for personal gain. This arrest underlines our commitment to apprehending those who endanger our nation’s security through collaboration with foreign spies.”

Allegations Detailed in the Indictment

Long-term Unregistered Foreign Agent Activities

According to the Indictment, after leaving U.S. government service, Terry worked for over a decade as an unregistered agent of the Republic of Korea (ROK), commonly known as South Korea. Directed covertly by ROK officials, Terry publicly advocated for South Korean policy positions, shared non-public U.S. government information with ROK intelligence officers, and facilitated access for ROK officials to U.S. government personnel. In return, she received luxury goods, expensive dinners, and substantial funding for a Korean affairs-focused public policy program she controlled.

Positions Held and Post-Government Career

From approximately 2001 to 2011, Terry held various positions within the U.S. government, including an analyst on East Asian issues for the CIA, Director for Korea, Japan, and Oceanic Affairs for the White House National Security Council, and Deputy National Intelligence Officer for East Asia at the National Intelligence Council. Post-2011, she worked at academic institutions and think tanks in New York City and Washington, D.C., making media appearances, publishing articles, and hosting conferences as a policy expert on Korean and regional Asian issues. She has testified before Congress multiple times on U.S. policy towards Korea.

Involvement with ROK National Intelligence Service

Since leaving U.S. government service, Terry allegedly served as a valuable information source for the ROK National Intelligence Service (ROK NIS). For instance, in June 2022, Terry participated in a private meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State regarding North Korea policy. Following the meeting, she provided detailed notes to her ROK NIS handler, who photographed the notes while in a car with Terry. Additionally, Terry hosted a happy hour for Congressional staff at the request of her ROK NIS handler, which the ROK NIS funded. During this event, her handler, posing as a diplomat, mingled with Congressional staff without disclosing his true identity.

Financial and Material Compensation

Terry’s services were rewarded by the ROK government with luxury items such as a $2,950 Bottega Veneta handbag, a $3,450 Louis Vuitton handbag, and a $2,845 Dolce & Gabbana coat. She also received expensive meals at Michelin-starred restaurants and approximately $37,000 deposited into an unrestricted “gift” account at her think tank. Furthermore, she was compensated for writing articles in both U.S. and Korean press that reflected positions provided by the ROK government.

Legal Proceedings and Charges

Sue Mi Terry, 54, of New York, New York, faces charges of conspiracy to violate FARA, carrying a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and failure to register under FARA, also carrying a maximum sentence of five years in prison. It is important to note that these charges are accusations, and Terry is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Recognition of Investigative Efforts

U.S. Attorney Williams commended the exceptional investigative efforts of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division in the New York Field Office. He also acknowledged the support from the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division and Foreign Influence Task Force at headquarters, the Mission Services and Counterintelligence Divisions of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the Amtrak Police Department, and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.

The case is being managed by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Adelsberg, Alexander Li, and Kyle A. Wirshba are leading the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Christopher M. Rigali of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.