{"id":2115800,"date":"2023-12-04T20:09:02","date_gmt":"2023-12-05T01:09:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-career-u-s-diplomat-accused-of-secretly-spying-for-cuban-intelligence-services\/"},"modified":"2023-12-04T20:13:06","modified_gmt":"2023-12-05T01:13:06","slug":"former-career-u-s-diplomat-accused-of-secretly-spying-for-cuban-intelligence-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-career-u-s-diplomat-accused-of-secretly-spying-for-cuban-intelligence-services\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-diplomat accused of spying for Cuban intelligence"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fformer-career-u-s-diplomat-accused-of-secretly-spying-for-cuban-intelligence-services%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2115800&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p><!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. Attorney\u200b General Merrick Garland (C) speaks during a meeting of the \u200dReproductive Rights Task Force at the U.S. Department of Justice on December 4, 2023 \u200bin Washington, DC. Garland also announced that Victor Manuel\u200b Rocha, the former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia, has been charged with acting illegally as a foreign agent\u200c for the government of\u2063 Cuba.\u200b (Photo by\u2063 Drew Angerer\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>OAN\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oann.com\/tag\/elizabeth-volberding\">Elizabeth Volberding<br \/><\/a>5:05 PM \u2013 Monday, December 4, 2023<\/h2>\n<p>The Justice Department dropped a bombshell today,\u200c revealing that\u2064 a former American diplomat who served as a United States ambassador to Bolivia \u200dand\u2064 Argentina has been \u200daccused of working\u2064 as a covert\u200d spy for Cuba\u2019s intelligence services since 1981.<\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1663871513696-art-3\" style=\"min-width: 320px; min-height: 50px; text-align: center;\">  \t<script>  \t\tgoogletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1663871513696-art-3'); });  \t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"ad-slot__ad-label\">Advertisement<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p>Former career U.S. diplomat Victor Manuel Rocha, 73, was apprehended by the FBI at his Miami residence on Friday, marking a major development in this high-profile case.<\/p>\n<p>Rocha, who \u2063held significant positions in Bolivia, Argentina, and the U.S.\u200b Interests \u200bSection \u200din Havana, Cuba during his two-decade diplomatic career, \u2063made a brief court appearance on \u2062Monday\u200d before being \u200ctaken into custody. A bond hearing is\u200b scheduled for Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors are calling this one of the most\u200b audacious and enduring betrayals in the history of American \u2064foreign services.<\/p>\n<p>Attorney General Merrick\u200c Garland, in a statement, announced the arrest of Rocha, a former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia, and described\u200d this case as one of the &#8220;highest-reaching and longest-lasting \u200binfiltrations&#8221; of \u200bthe American government by \u2063a foreign representative.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cThose who have the privilege of\u200c serving \u2062in the government of the United States are given an enormous amount of trust by the public we serve,\u201d Garland said. \u201cThis action exposes one of\u2063 the highest-reaching \u200cand\u200b longest-lasting infiltrations of the\u200d United States government by a foreign agent. To betray that trust by falsely pledging loyalty to the United States while serving a foreign power is a crime that will be met with the full force of the Justice Department.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote data-service=\"twitter\" data-category=\"marketing\" data-placeholder-image=\"https:\/\/c3.oann.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/complianz-gdpr\/assets\/images\/placeholders\/twitter-minimal.jpg\" class=\"cmplz-placeholder-element twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Attorney General Merrick\u2064 Garland announces the\u2063 arrest of former U.S. \u2063Ambassador to Boliva, Victor\u200d Manuel \u2062Rocha. He&#8217;s being charged with acting as a foreign agent for Cuba. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VwK6WD266L\">pic.twitter.com\/VwK6WD266L<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 CSPAN \u200b(@cspan) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/cspan\/status\/1731787437125324978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 4, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-service=\"twitter\" data-category=\"marketing\" async data-cmplz-src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Rocha is facing charges for aiding the Cuban government&#8217;s\u200c activities, which is\u200d not illegal unless performed on U.S. soil without registering as a &#8220;foreign lobbyist&#8221; with the\u2063 Justice Department.<\/p>\n<p>According to authorities, Rocha has been secretly working for Cuba \u200csince November 1981.<\/p>\n<p>He is currently charged with conspiracy to act as a foreign agent to \u2062defraud\u2062 the U.S., acting as an illegal agent for a foreign government, and using a passport obtained through false statements.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors have hinted that additional charges may be forthcoming in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n<p>In November 2022, Rocha allegedly \u200dreceived a WhatsApp message from an undercover FBI agent, setting off a series of meetings where he\u2064 boasted about\u2064 his unwavering loyalty to Havana.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cGood\u2062 Afternoon ambassador, my \u2064name is\u2062 Miguel and I have a\u2064 message for \u2063you\u200d from your friends in Havana,\u201d FBI special agent Michael\u200c Haley wrote in a \u200dcriminal complaint, citing the undercover agent. \u201cIt is in regard to a sensitive matter. \u200bAre you available \u200cfor a telephone call?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>During the last meeting, Rocha became\u200d defensive when questioned \u200babout his loyalty to Havana, responding with vulgar language and expressing\u2062 his anger.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cI\u200d am angry. I\u2019m pissed off,\u201d Rocha reportedly said. \u201cIt\u2019s like you want me to drop them \u2026 and show you if I \u2062still have testicles.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Furthermore, Rocha repeatedly referred to the U.S. as &#8220;the\u2062 enemy,&#8221; according to Attorney General Garland.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cHe \u2064told the undercover that his efforts to infiltrate the United States government were \u2018meticulous\u2019 and \u2018very disciplined,&#8217;\u201d Garland said. \u201cAnd he repeatedly bragged about the significance of his efforts saying that, \u2018What has\u200d been done has\u200d strengthened \u2063the revolution immensely.&#8217;\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Stay informed! Subscribe to our newsletter and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/xi-invites-putin-to-china\/\" title=\"Xi invites Putin to China\">receive breaking news directly<\/a> to your inbox for free. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oann.com\/alerts\">https:\/\/www.oann.com\/alerts<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"rc-widget-10bad2\" data-rc-widget data-widget-host=\"habitat\" data-endpoint=\"\/\/trends.revcontent.com\" data-widget-id=\"278641\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"dpsp-share-text\" style=\"margin-bottom:10px\"> \t\t \t\tShare this post!\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>Former\u200c Representative George Santos is looking to go scorched earth against  <\/p>\n<h2> How transparent is the Justice\u2063 Department being in\u200d providing updates on the investigation into Rocha&#8217;s \u200balleged spying\u200d activities<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Tors allege that Rocha provided sensitive information and conducted espionage \u200dactivities while posing as a \u2062loyal diplomat. This\u200c includes sharing classified intelligence, identifying U.S. intelligence assets in \u200cCuba, and monitoring Cuban dissidents living in the United States.<\/p>\n<p>The arrest of \u2064a former American diplomat on charges of spying for a foreign government has raised significant\u200c concerns within the U.S. intelligence community and diplomatic circles. It\u200c underscores the ongoing threats and challenges faced by the American government in safeguarding sensitive information and countering\u2064 foreign espionage.<\/p>\n<p>The case also highlights the importance of\u2064 thorough \u200bvetting and \u200cbackground checks\u200d for\u2064 individuals serving in sensitive government positions. Rocha&#8217;s decades-long infiltration\u200d of the\u2062 U.S.\u200d government raises questions about the effectiveness\u2064 of the \u200cscreening processes employed by intelligence agencies and the\u200c diplomatic corps.<\/p>\n<p>Attorney \u2064General Garland emphasized the seriousness of this crime and the \u2062need to hold individuals accountable for such betrayals of trust. \u200bThe U.S. government \u200bplaces a high level of\u2063 trust in its officials, and any breach of that trust undermines national security and \u2062compromises the integrity of U.S. foreign \u2062policy.<\/p>\n<p>As\u2062 the investigation \u200cinto Rocha&#8217;s activities continues, it is\u2064 crucial for the \u200cJustice Department to \u200cuncover the full extent of his espionage efforts and identify any potential damage done to U.S. national security.\u200d Additionally, steps must be taken to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kamala-gif-tiff-sparks-mandatory-anti-racism-training-at-cornell\/\" title=\"Kamala GIF Tiff Sparks Mandatory \u2018Anti-Racism\u2019 Training at Cornell\">prevent similar incidents<\/a> in the future, \u200dincluding improving \u2063vetting processes and enhancing counterintelligence measures.<\/p>\n<p>This case serves as \u200ba reminder that espionage remains a significant threat to national security, even \u200cin the\u2062 digital age. Foreign \u200dintelligence services are constantly seeking to gain access to \u200csensitive information and influence the \u200bactions of foreign governments. The arrest of Rocha highlights the need for continued \u200cvigilance and robust efforts to detect\u2064 and counter foreign espionage.<\/p>\n<p>The disclosure of Rocha&#8217;s alleged spying activities for Cuba&#8217;s intelligence services is a significant development in the ongoing efforts\u2063 to protect U.S. national security. The arrest\u2062 and prosecution of individuals involved in espionage send a strong message\u200b that such actions will not be tolerated, and those\u2062 responsible will\u200d be held accountable.<\/p>\n<p>As the case unfolds, it is essential for the Justice Department to maintain transparency and\u2063 provide updates on \u200cthe progress of the investigation. This will help to reassure the\u200b public that steps are being taken to \u2062address the breach and ensure the integrity of the U.S. \u200bgovernment.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, the arrest of former U.S. ambassador Victor Manuel Rocha on charges\u200c of spying for\u2064 Cuba&#8217;s intelligence services is a matter of great concern. It exposes the vulnerability of the U.S. government to foreign \u200despionage and raises questions about the effectiveness of screening processes. The case \u200dunderscores the ongoing threats faced by the U.S. intelligence community and the need\u200d for continued vigilance in countering foreign espionage. The Justice Department&#8217;s prosecution of Rocha sends\u2063 a strong message that \u2064such betrayals \u2063of trust will not go unpunished. It is essential for the investigation to proceed diligently, \u2062ensuring that any potential damage \u2064to national security is addressed, and\u200b necessary measures are taken \u2062to prevent\u200b future incidents of this nature.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/body><\/p>\n<p><\/html><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland addressed the Reproductive Rights Task Force at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, DC. He revealed charges against Victor Manuel Rocha, ex-U.S. ambassador to Bolivia, for unlawful actions as a foreign agent<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2368,"featured_media":2115801,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[542],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2115800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-oann"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2115800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2368"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2115800"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2115800\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2115801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2115800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2115800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2115800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}