U.S. Official, 4 Others to be Charged with Spying

The Associated Press reports that a U.S. government official and up to four Chinese nationals, are going to be charged with spying on the United States for China.

Law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity say the charges are being unsealed later Monday by federal courts in California and Virginia. The officials asked for anonymity because the case has not yet been made public.

It's not clear at this time in which department the official worked, but one reports says it was the Department of Defense.

Officials will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. EST to release more details.

Update: Justice Department officials say that there are two cases, one in Virginia involving an official connected with the Defense Department who had high security clearance, and another in California involving a suspect who allegedly tried to get tech secrets from Boeing and send them to the People's Republic of China.

More: The three individuals in Virginia will actually be charged with a criminal complaint, rather than an indictment. The U.S. official is being charged with, basically, talking to other people about defense documents. Although the other people involved were connected with China, that is the extent of the charges so far.

In the second case, the individuals are being charged with giving U.S. classified documents to China. Justice Department read from letters from officials in the People's Republic of China praising the individual being charged for his work on their behalf.

1:41 PM ET | 02-11-2008 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

Judge: Sen. Craig Can't Take Back Plea

A Minnesota judge has ruled that Idaho Republican Sen. Larry Craig can't withdraw his guilty plea to disorderly conduct in an airport men's restroom.

Craig has said that he might stay in the Senate if he could clear his name, but now that the guilty plea is sticking, he may step down. However, he can still appeal.

Craig's lawyers had argued that he panicked under stress and pleaded guilty to make the charge "go away." He was arrested by an undercover officer in a Minneapolis airport men's room in June as part of a sex sting. Craig contends the officer misconstrued his actions.

(Update: Craig says he will stay in the Senate and finish his term.)

- Erica Ryan

2:17 PM ET | 10- 4-2007 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post

Pakistani Troops Storm Red Mosque

Pakistani soldiers stormed the Red Mosque in Islamabad early this morning after last-minute negotiations with militants holed up inside broke down. At least 50 militants and eight soldiers were killed, according to the army.

The Washington Post reports that President Pervez Musharraf gave the go-ahead for the assault, aimed at ending an eight-day siege.

Morning Edition today talked to Aryn Baker of Time magazine, who was a witness to the original confrontation between students in the mosque and soldiers last week. Baker said there were reports that the mosque's leader, radical cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi, has barricaded himself inside a room, along with women and children.

The New York Times reports that Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad, a military spokesman, said the militants inside the mosque were using rocket launchers, grenades and landmines and that much of the area had been booby trapped. "There is a lot of resistance. They are well-armed, well-trained terrorists," he said.

Zahid Hussain, Islamabad correspondent for The Times of London, lives a short distance from the mosque. He writes that this is the first time Islamabad has experienced violence of this kind or even a curfew. He adds that the location of the mosque -- in the center of the city with residences for government officials on several sides -- "is the worst possible place for such a battle to be fought."

Tom's Update: The Associated Press is reporting that radical cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi was killed as troops seized control of the sprawling Red Mosque compound. Ghazi had vowed to die rather than surrender.

9:27 AM ET | 07-10-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

The Rev. Jerry Falwell Dies

The Rev. Jerry Falwell, a longtime leader of the Christian right, died today. Falwell, a dynamic leader and organizer, was found without a heartbeat in his office around 10:45 this morning. There is no word yet on who will replace him as the head of Liberty University or of the Moral Majority Coalition.

2:26 PM ET | 05-15-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

Student shooting in Keene, New Hampshire

Associated Press Radio reports that a student at Keene State College in Keene, New Hampshire, shot and wounded his roommate and then killed himself early Friday morning.

The shooting occurred on the last day of finals and two days before graduation. Many students had already left campus and others were unaware of the shooting Friday morning.

Police identified the dead student as Michael Dyke, 20, of Orford.

The wounded roommate, Jason Lillibridge, 20, of Connecticut, had a single gunshot wound to the buttocks. He was taken to Cheshire Medical Center where he was in fair condition, police said.

Dyke shot and killed himself as the police entered the apartment to investigate the report of a shooting. An autopsy is planned.

We'll have more updates today when details are available.

8:02 AM ET | 05- 4-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post