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FBI Director Asked Ted Stevens To Tell Them When He Met With Chinese Officials

Former Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK)

The FBI told the late Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) back in the early 80s that they would appreciate a heads-up next time he met with the Chinese.

As Reuters reports, the FBI file posted by the bureau this morning included the senator’s contacts with a diplomat from the Chinese Embassy in 1982. The FBI requested that he inform them when he met with the Chinese in the future.

“As you know, your letter is very helpful to us in fulfilling our counterintelligence responsibilities,” then-FBI Director William Webster wrote to Stevens. “Edward J. O’Malley, Assistant Director of our Intelligence Division, has suggested to me that if you have an opportunity to do so, similar notification of future meetings you may have with officials of the People’s Republic of China would be of interest.”

China, FBI, Intelligence, Ted Stevens
Ryan J. Reilly

Ryan J. Reilly is a D.C.-based reporter for TPM. Prior to joining TPM, he worked for a news website covering the Justice Department and was a researcher for Bloomberg News. His email address is ryan(at)talkingpointsmemo.com.

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