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A former senior federal reserve official was arrested on Friday after US prosecutors accused him of crossing economic secrets in China.
John Rogers, a senior adviser to the FED’s International Finance Division from 2010-21, used his position to access sensitive data on China-related tariffs, announcements for officials and policy debates and notifications, according to one indictment fused on Federal Court in Federal Court in Federal Court in Federal Court in Federal Court in Federal Court in Federal Court Washington Court
Rogers, 63, from Virginia, was accused of transferring sensitive information to his personal account before printing it and transferring it to Chinese masked officials as graduate students. He also used coded messaging applications to communicate with Chinese officials, the indictment said.
The Justice Department on Friday said Rogers had “under the classroom” Class “, met with his co-conspirators in Chinese hotel rooms, where he gave them sensitive secret trade information belonging to the Fed.
She added that the economist was paid about $ 450,000 as part -time professor at Fudan University in China.
Rogers’ lawyer cannot be reached immediately for comment.
The indictment is the latest in an increasing number of cases in which officials from the entire US government – and especially agencies such as the CIA and the military – have been accused of providing sensitive or secret information for the Chinese government.
In recent years, the Justice Department has also become more public to highlight issues to underline the threat from Chinese espionage. Washington has accused Chinese hackers of attacking American telecommunications networks in a massive and widespread campaign that has allowed authors to enter the US officials’ conversations.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington said he was not “known” with the specifics of the Rogers issue, but said China “supports the rule of law”.
“We oppose any stains and attacks on China with the so -called” spy risks, “the embassy added.
The Chinese government is one of the largest global holders of US government bonds. Interest rate nutrition decisions and signals on future monetary policy movements can also affect US treasures and are among the most closely viewed reports in global financial markets.
US Treasury figures show that since November, China officially held $ 768.6 billion in debt, making it the second largest foreign holder after Japan.
The indictment claims that sensitive information was separated from “At least 2018” with suspected Chinese co-conspirators “who worked for China’s intelligence and security apparatus and posing as graduate students at a (Chinese)”.
Fed refused to comment.
Rogers, who speaks Chinese limited, discussed the teaching topics that would make the meetings look “legitimate in the eyes of the Fed”, according to coded messages exchanged with his alleged co-conspirator cited in the indictment.
Rogers’ journey was covered by his Chinese counterparts. “(D) don’t worry about the cost of travel… We don’t spend money, but we can keep all the cost needed, you can choose a comfortable and suitable way for travel,” said one co-conspirator claimed in a message included in the indictment.
The secrets of trade in the heart of the case allegedly include the evaluation of a European Central Bank announcement, informative notifications for a FED member member and a document entitled “BRIFING PARAGE-FOMC”-All dated 2019.
Rogers in 2020 lied to the Office of the Fed Inspector General when asked about his entry and the separation of sensitive material, prosecutors said.
