US ends case against former diplomat accused of spying for Pak

Karachi: The United States Justice Department closed its espionage investigation into a former American diplomat, who had been accused of spying for Pakistan, her lawyer said on Monday.

The FBI agents raided Robin L Raphel’s home and office in 2014, looking for evidence that she was spying for Islamabad, an accusation which Raphel had denied vehemently.

No charges were filed against Raphel, Jeffress continued, sharply criticising the government officials for revealing details of the investigation to reporters.

“It was clear from the outset that this investigation was based on a fundamental misunderstanding,” her lawyer Amy Jeffress said in a statement.

“It is of the utmost importance to our national security that our diplomats be able to do their work without fearing that their routine diplomatic communications will subject them to criminal investigation,” the New York Times quoted her as saying.

The espionage case against Raphel began after the US officials intercepted a conversation in which a Pakistani official suggested that his government was receiving American secrets from her. (ANI)