Abraham Teklu Lemma, a 50-year-old US citizen of Ethiopian descent and former US government contractor who had worked at the State and Justice departments, has been arrested and charged with espionage, raising concerns over national security and diplomatic implications.
The arrest, which took place on August 24, stems from allegations of spying on behalf of a foreign government, as confirmed by the United States Department of Justice. A criminal complaint against Lemma, a resident of Silver Spring, Maryland, was unsealed on Friday, shedding light on the serious charges.
While the Justice Department did not specify the foreign government involved, multiple sources, including The New York Times and various US media outlets, identified Ethiopia as the country in question.
According to an affidavit submitted by an FBI investigator, Abraham Teklu Lemma engaged in espionage activities spanning from December 2022 to August 2023. During this period, he allegedly deposited substantial sums of cash into bank accounts located in the Washington region.
The US government contractor is accused of illicitly copying classified information, including both secret and top-secret intelligence reports from the State Department. Subsequently, he purportedly shared this sensitive data with an “official associated with a foreign country’s intelligence service” via an encrypted messaging platform.
The classified information comprised a wide range of materials, encompassing documents, photographs, notes, and maps related to what the affidavit referred to as the “Relevant Country.”
The affidavit also cited an exchange of messages in September 2022 in which the foreign official instructed Lemma to “continue (your) support,” to which he responded with a concise acknowledgment, stating, “Roger that!”
Remarkably, Lemma’s communications with the foreign official reportedly extended to discussions regarding the military activities of a rebel group engaged in an armed struggle against the government of the “Relevant Country,” believed to be a reference to the ongoing conflict in Tigray.
In addition to his employment at the State Department, Abraham Teklu Lemma also worked as a contract management analyst at the Justice Department. Notably, he had held a top-secret security clearance since 2020.
The charges brought against Lemma include two counts of espionage and one count of unlawfully retaining national defence information. The espionage charges carry the potential for a death sentence, while the retention charge holds a maximum sentence of 10 years.
The case has garnered significant attention due to its potential implications for US-Ethiopia relations, especially given Ethiopia’s status as a major recipient of US aid and the visit of Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the country in March. The charges underscore the gravity of espionage allegations and their consequences for individuals involved in such activities.