US Couple Charged with Passing Nuclear Secrets
A US couple is charged with passing US nuclear secrets to a fake Venezuelan agent. Venezuela has no actual role in this fake espionage. The accused is a husband and wife. Argentina-born Mr. Pedro Mascheroni and his wife were contractors at Los Alamos National Laboratory, a center for US nuclear research.
Mr. Mascheroni, 75, worked as a scientist at the laboratory from 1979 and 1988. He was removed from his job after criticizing US nuclear funding priorities. He was denied funding for his project developing a laser technology. Mrs. Mascheroni worked as a technical writer and editor from 1981 to 2010.
Both Accused
The couple is said to have access to nuclear secrets, including design and manufacturing of nuclear weapons. Mr. Mascheroni is accused of meeting an FBI agent, posing as a Venezuelan intelligence operative two years ago and saying he would help Venezuela develop a nuclear bomb. He was also accused of telling the agent he would help the Latin American country produce nuclear energy.
Mrs. Mascheroni is accused of helping her husband prepare a document containing the nuclear secrets. The document was then handed to the FBI agent posing as a Venezuelan secret service. The justice department warned the US’ people of wrongdoing of this kind.
Couple Disagrees
Mr. and Mrs. Mascheroni rejected the allegations and said this all stems from his dealings with a man representing himself to be from the Venezuelan government in an attempt to spark U.S. congressional interest in a laser fusion project he developed.
Mascheroni said his intention was to show the U.S. Congress that another country saw merit in his laser program so they would convene hearings in which he could convince them that his program would benefit humankind.
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