SPY WHO STAYED IN THE COLD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000100270075-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 6, 2012
• Sequence Number: 75
• Publication Date: October 23, 1980
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/06: CIA-RDP90-00965R000100270075-3
1, iASHINGTo N POST
23 October 1930
Siy Who Stayed in the Cold
Grand Jury Expected to Indict Suspected `Mow
By-Charle&-R Babcock Background information about a co
W"hingtoapoeesfat:Writer. Vert 'intelligence operative is under
standably sketchy. Barnett is listed
In the late 1960s, David B arnett was . State Department's 1969 Bio
a CIA officer working undercover as a in
graphic Register as having been a po-
U.S.diplomat in the. Indonesian seaport litical officer in Surabaya since August i
of Surabaya., His main job, according 1967.
to a source-familiar-with his activities The 47-year-old "reserve" Foreign
there, was to recruit Russian officials Service officer - the usual cover in
at a nearby.-,consulatg -to spy for the those:; days for an intelligence officer
United States.: -Was born in Pennsylvania and got
This Friday,, a grand jury in Balti- his B.A., degree at the University of
more is expected to' return an indict- "Michigan. in, 1955.
ment: charging Barnett with- espionage He then served in the Army - for
on behalf of the Soviet Union. FBI three years, and from 1958 to 1967
and Justice Department officials refuse was an "analyst" for the Army in South
to comment on the case, the first in Korea and Washington. From 1963 on,
-.4. PTA --.+;,_ sources said, Barnett was a CIA officer.
1,;
e
f ?
w
c a
m
r
is, suspected of being recruited by,, de;. in Indonesia said yesterday that the
Soviet KGB: r= sole purpose of having an intelligence
But sources familiar with- the agent at the U.S. consulate in Surabaya
said: yesterday that they think Barre was to make contact with officials at
became a Soviet agent after he leftgthe- the Soviet conuslate in the city. Barnett
CIA in- 1970 and stayed on in Indonesia' was good at his job, this source' said,
to run: an antique-exporting firm than and he sent back optimistic rep6rir3
got into financial difficulty
;yam
.
that he was getting close to a Russian
"That's the dangerous part when'yoir attached to the consulate.
play- footsie with the other side," -one' But Barnett resigned suddenly from
source said. 'The CIA has a dumb?be=? the CIA in 1970, the source said, be-
lief'that no American. can be turned:"~ cause of a personality conflict with the
B
tt
d
t
th
t
Uni
ed
arne
re
urne
-
o,
e
t
. superior who was soon to arrive ill
States and tried unsuccessfully in 1,927 Jakarta as the new chief of station:
to get a job: on the staffs of the Senate Barnett stayed on in Indonesia'
and House Intelligence committees.- A though, and apparently kept in contact
short time later, American intelligence with his Russian friend. "Instead-p('
'officials became suspicious of him and him getting them, it looks like they re'`
warned the congressional committees cruited him," 'one intelligence expert
about the attempted: penetration; said.
sources said.'Barnett now lives in Bethesda ?atlf
Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), his wife and three children. Some
chairman of the Senate committee at neighbors refused' to talk about hii6
the time, then issued a cryptic state-. and others said they had no idea what
ment. saying he expected the CIA to Barnett,s occupation was.
promptly report any efforts by the com-, It is unclear how U.S. couryterinfel
`monist intelligence agencies to pene- ligence officials learned -of Barnett's'al'-`
irate Congress.
leged dealings with the Soviets. Aii
:Lv4979, Barnettwas rehired as a while several U.S. intelligence' officials
contract employe by the CIA, in hopes said yesterday that they do not 'consider'
of confirming the suspicions that he him to be a high-level "mole" so`pre!
S
g
was a
oviet agent, sources said, and a
ent in spy novels, some also predicted
when confronted with the evidence this he will not be the last example un-
h
year
e confessed to- having been paid; earthed of an American agent turn
uwuo wivv,vvv My. Ll1C OVViCiJ fur pass- '`'! 1.110- L JD
mg them classified information about
U.S. ;conventional weapons systems and
'attempting to join the congressional
committee staffs. '"
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/06: CIA-RDP90-00965R000100270075-3