Spain expels 2 US embassy staff for bribing intelligence agents for secrets

Spain has reportedly expelled at least two staff members from the US embassy who are accused of offering bribes to Spanish intelligence officers in exchange for classified information, El Pais newspaper reported on Thursday quoting government sources. The individuals from the embassy, not identified by name or position in the El Pais report, were reportedly withdrawn at the request of Madrid following an investigation that revealed their involvement in obtaining information from two Spanish intelligence officers in exchange for “a large sum.” There was no immediate confirmation from either country, who are allies and generally share intelligence between them. More than two U.S. “spies” may have been involved, the newspaper said, citing unidentified government sources. The Spanish intelligence agency (CNI) officers, the chief of the area and his assistant, were arrested two months ago and a court ordered their case to be kept secret, El Pais said. U.S. ambassador Julissa Reynoso was summoned by Spanish authorities, said she knew nothing of the case and apologised, the report added. Washington then complied with a request from Spain’s defence and foreign ministries for the two U.S. staff to leave. A US official in Spain said Reynoso would not comment. Spokespeople at the Spanish Foreign Ministry and the top court declined to comment, while the CNI and Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. “It’s a very grave matter since recruiting secret agents from a host nation to betray their own country is an openly hostile act done with enemy governments, but never with friends or allies,” El Pais said. With inputs from Reuters.