Ex-US IT Admin Admits Spying for Ethiopia

A former US government IT administrator with Top Secret clearance pleaded guilty in a Washington federal court on Tuesday to conspiring to commit espionage for Ethiopia.

Abraham Teklu Lemma, a naturalised American citizen of Ethiopian descent, leveraged his classified system access at the State Department and Department of Justice to steal national defence materials.

Authorities arrested Lemma in August 2023 after discovering he had leaked dozens of highly classified documents, notes, and photographs to senior Ethiopian officials between 2021 and 2023.

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Prosecutors revealed that Lemma urged Ethiopian leaders to use the stolen intelligence to target and eliminate opposition paramilitary forces during northern regional conflicts.

Ex-US IT admin admits spying for Ethiopia (News Central TV) — An ex-US IT admin admits spying for Ethiopia.  Credit: Dado Ruvic

“Lemma betrayed the United States to an extraordinary degree,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg said, noting that Lemma sought to help government forces eliminate regional fighters.

Lemma faces a prison sentence ranging from 120 to 262 months at his upcoming sentencing hearing on April 14.

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Abisoye Adeyiga

Abisoye Adedoyin Adeyiga holds a PhD in Languages and Media Studies and a Master’s in Education (English Language). Trained in digital marketing and investigative journalism, she is passionate about new media’s transformative power. She enjoys reading, traveling, and meaningful conversations.